The main characters are often ordinary people. They could be a shopkeeper, a schoolteacher, or a housewife. They are simple folks with simple dreams and desires.
The main characters in RK Narayan short stories are mostly common people living in small - town settings. They are full of human qualities - they can be kind, greedy, naive, or wise. They are characters who experience the joys and sorrows of life. They are often in a state of flux, either trying to improve their situation or coming to terms with their lot in life. These characters are not heroic in the traditional sense but are rather like the people we might meet in our daily lives, with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies.