The God Of Small Things By Arundhati Roy - 1462 Words

Introduction Arundhati Roy’s fantastically crafted novel The God of Small Things focuses on the daily grievances suffered by people living in the South Indian society through the eyes of a young girl (Rahel) and her family, living in Kerala. The story pattern is non-linear and revolves around basic everyday issues such as the prevalence of a rigid caste system, gender discrimination, child abuse, death and forbidden love. The author executes her work with great panache and succeeds in sending a subtle, yet strong message to all her readers through every line she writes. Her genius lies in her application of humour even while describing grave issues that perturb the society. The tone of the entire novel is melancholy, infused with a sense†¦show more content†¦There was very little for a young girl to do in Ayemenem other than to wait for marriage proposals while she helped her mother with the housework.(Roy, 1997, 38) The double standards of the society is further highlighted in the fact that- when the estranged daughter is treated very harshly in the household, is not allowed to take part in the family functions and subjected to demeaning remarks; the estranged son of the same household not only remains the favourite in the family but is also encouraged when he flirts with another woman. Existence of a rigid caste sysem Roy brings the rigid caste system into the limelight with different instances stated throughout the novel. She brings out a sense of sympathy among her readers for the sufferings of the Paravans and in the end of the book we are left with a deep feeling of affliction and abhorrence for the societal setup. Pappachi would not allow Paravans into the house. Nobody would. They were not allowed to touch anything that Touchables touched.(Roy, 1997, 73) Relationship shared by people of different backgrounds The novel also depicts the camaraderie shared by the people of different backgrounds with great finesse. He learned to cook and shop for vegetables. Vendors in the bazaar, sitting behind pyramids of oiled, shining vegetables, grew to recognize him and would attend to him amidst the clamouring of their other customers. They gave him rusted film cans in which to put the vegetables he picked. He neverShow MoreRelatedThe God Of Small Things By Arundhati Roy1628 Words   |  7 PagesArundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things explores the tragic lives of twins Estha and Rahel through a profound application of language and detail. Roy’s utterly unique writing style reels the reader in through hard to grasp yet beautiful language, allowing one to appreciate the beauty within such a tragic story. Roy repeats a specific phrase throughout the novel at pivotal moments within the twin’s, specifically Estha’s, lives. This phrase, â€Å"Little Man. He lived in a cara-van. Dum dum†, is utilizedRead MoreThe God Of Small Things By Arundhati Roy1271 Words   |  6 PagesI n the novel; The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy introduces many female characters. The novel is set in Ayemenem, India after colonialism and the novel tends to shift back and forth between the younger years and adult years of the two main characters; Rahel and Estha. Loomba presents how women are characterized in a society which is that they â€Å"are usually cast as mothers or wives and are called upon to literally and figuratively reproduce the nation† (Loomba 180). In the novel the female characters;Read MoreThe God Of Small Things By Arundhati Roy1843 Words   |  8 Pagesapplies to driving a car, riding a bike, or moving in any kind of fast-paced setting because if one crosses lines they end up hurt, hurting someone else, or worse. The God of Small Things reveals to readers that staying in your lane can mean the difference between living and dying. The opening quote of Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things not only reveals the purpose of the novel, but it impacts the characters actions in colonial Indian society. John Berger states, â€Å"Never again will a single story beRead MoreThe God Of Small Things By Arundhati Roy1313 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, the reader notices the differences between the modern American view of politics and society between the politics and society in the novel. This novel takes place in the southwestern part of India in a town called Kerala and is focused on the wealthy family of the Syrian Christian Ipe family of Ayemenem. Within this family, many of them have problems in their lives and as a result, go to the house once their problems have taken a turn for theRead MoreThe God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy532 Words   |  2 PagesFrom what I have read so far in the book, â€Å"The God of small Things,† there are many major themes that have captivated my attention. Those include â€Å"The Love Laws,† how the relationship between Chacko an d Margaret got to the point of love, the blame and guilt between the characters, and of course â€Å"Communism.† Based on four these themes many things have gone wrong for the lives of the characters, especially with, â€Å"Blame and Guiltiness.† Love and rules (Love Laws), are constantly butting heads in theRead MoreEssay on The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy2894 Words   |  12 PagesThe God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy In The God of Small Things the twin’s mother, Ammu, breaks the laws that lay down ‘who should be loved, and how and how much’ when she has an affair with Velutha (an Untouchable). A relationship with an Untouchable is inconceivable in India, even today, as a woman would be expelled from her Caste if she were to carry out such an undignified act. Before this occurs Ammu is already frowned upon for being a divorced woman, a common view in Indian societyRead MoreAnalysis Of Arundhati Roy s The God Of Small Things 1574 Words   |  7 PagesThe relationship between language and resistance in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, is a site of continuous contest and struggle. Roy assumes a position within Western discourse to communicate her ideas, all the while challenging and rejecting the very structure she inhabits. Through her writing, rather than seeking to enter the canon of postcolonial literature, Roy strives to redefine it. Throughout the narrative, she subverts the rules and boundaries of language, internally pursuing aRead MoreForbidden Love in The God of Small Things written by Arundhati Roy888 Words   |  4 PagesThis essay focuses on the theme of forbidden love, The God of Small Things written by Arundhati Roy. This novel explores love and how love can’t be ignored when confronted with social boundaries. The novel examines how conventional society seeks t o destroy true love as this novel is constantly connected to loss, death and sadness. This essay will explore the theme of forbidden love, by discussing and analysing Ammu and Veluthas love that is forbidden because of the ‘Love Laws’ in relation to theRead MoreThe Effects Of Change On Society : The God Of Small Things By Arundhati Roy1547 Words   |  7 Pagesinstilled within their children. History showed just how difficult it was for children/ young adults to be raised under such conditions. History is a tough thing to forget but accepting change can also have a positive effect on everyone and enforce a new way of living. One major book that focuses on this topic is The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. The people of Ayemenem’s beliefs were so strong that it was all they knew and lived by. History played an important part in this story due to the factRead MoreExploring Boundaries in The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy772 Words   |  4 Pages In The God of Small Things, Roy explores the idea of breaking boundaries by personifying the setting, focusing on everyday events, and manipulating the characters within society. The most predominant boundary in the novel remains the rigid social classes known as the caste system in Indian society. Roy gives each character a specific role to bring out the importance of the Love Laws, which set behavioral margins within the society. In chapter 1, Roy personifies the setting as the blurring of boundaries