The Gold Frame

📘 The Gold Frame – Study Notes

• Author: R.K. Laxman

• Genre: Short story / Satire / Humour

• Setting: A small picture frame shop in India

• Tone: Humorous, ironic, realistic

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🧠 Summary

"The Gold Frame" is a humorous short story about a small-time frame-maker who owns a tiny shop. 

One day, a serious-looking customer brings in an old, valuable photograph of his late grandfather. 

He wants it to be framed in a very specific, simple gold frame, with no changes.

However, the shopkeeper accidentally ruins the photograph by spilling ink on it. 

Fearing the customer’s anger, he secretly replaces it with another similar photograph. 

When the customer returns, he fails to notice the difference — instead, he praises the gold frame.

The story ends on an ironic note: the shopkeeper is relieved, and the reader is amused by the customer’s lack of attention to what he claimed was very important.

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💡 Central Theme

🎭 Appearances vs. Reality

• People pretend to value things but often fail to recognize their true essence.

• The customer values the frame’s appearance more than the actual photograph.

😅 Human Error and Hypocrisy

• Everyone makes mistakes, but instead of being honest, people cover them up.

• It highlights how people sometimes care more about show than sentiment.

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🧍‍♂️ Character Sketches

The Shopkeeper

• Poor but skilled

• Tries hard to satisfy customers

• Makes a mistake but covers it up

• Represents common man’s struggle and wit

The Customer

• Serious and proud

• Pretends to value tradition and family

• Doesn't even recognize his grandfather's photo

• Represents superficial respect for heritage

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✍️ Important Lines & Explanation

📜 “He was a solemn-looking man and had a majestic bearing.”

Explanation:

• Sets up the customer as someone important and serious.

• Makes the later irony funnier — this "majestic" man doesn’t even notice the photo is fake.

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📜 “He took out the photograph and with a trembling hand, held it before me.”

Explanation:

• Shows how emotional and delicate the photo is to him — but ironically, he doesn’t recognize the difference later.

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📜 “He was full of praise for the gold frame.”

Explanation:

• Highlights the story’s central irony.

• He praises the frame, but misses the wrong photo — showing surface-level values.

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✒️ Literary Devices

1. Irony

• The main emotion in the story: the wrong photo gets accepted, and the customer is happy.

2. Humour

• Comes from the shopkeeper’s panic, his attempts to hide the mistake, and the final twist.

3. Satire

• Criticizes how people care more about appearances and pride than real feelings.

4. Symbolism

• The gold frame represents show-off or outer beauty, while the ruined photo stands for true meaning, now lost.

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