Economic Capital as a Social Strategy in Adiga’s The White Tiger

Literature can be regarded as a reflection of social reality, particularly capitalism issue as social problem reflected on literature. This situation is illustrated in Adiga’s The White Tiger. It narrates a story of Balram who struggles in achieving prosperity. This praxis offered as an ideology deals with how to live in capitalism arena. Therefore, this research aims to disclose economic capital in Adiga’s The White Tiger as a social strategy in capitalist society. Theoretical framework of this research is Bourdieu’s Economic Capital and Distinction. To analyse it, this research uses mimetic approach and the technique of analysis uses descriptive interpretative. The result reveals that Balram is successful in levelling his social class up with economic capital as the major factor to accumulate. Thus, it indicates how economic capital is significant in the strategy to survive in capitalism economic system.