The god of small things - booktalk script I read a book from India called “The god of small things”. I thought I would start off by talking a bit about the author’s background. The author of this book is a woman named Arundhati Roy and she grew up in south India which is where story of this book is set. “The god of small things “ was published in 1997 and is actually her first book. Arundhati Roy is a political activist and openly speaks about her stance on social and political issues in India as well as issues concerning other parts of the world. “The god of small things” revolves around a family that comes from a village in the state of Kerala called Ayemenem. The story is not written in chronological order which makes the storyline somewhat …show more content…
The fact that these rules determine who and how people can love in the Indian society is a central part of the book and many characters go against these social norms. The twins mother has an intimate relationship with someone from a lower caste and in the book this is depicted as being almost unheard of and damaging to a family's reputation. The history of India, especially concerning colonialism and its impact on society, is brought up in “The god of small things”. India was a British colony until 1947 and the book features parts of the post-colonial mindset and struggles in the Indian society. In page 52 one of the characters called Chacko describes colonial India as “A war that made us despise ourselves and love our enemies” . I think this is an interesting statement because it captures the way the British colonisation, not only impacted politics and other structures in India, but also people's mind and …show more content…
The book addresses social and political issues in India and these things are portrayed in a way that clearly show how unfair and wrong they are. How unfair it is that you can’t be with someone purely because you were born into the wrong family, or how ridiculous it is that society punishes women for doing something that slightly goes against social norms. This leads me to think that the author wanted to bring light to important issues in the south Indian society, issues that Roy herself might have been affected by growing up. Overall I think “The god of small things” is an incredibly well written and very insightful book. Even though it’s filled with heart wrenching, tragic events it still manages to be very informative as facts regarding India’s history, politics and social situation are incorporated in the story. I would definitely recommend reading “The god of small
In Louise Erdrich’s The Round House and Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things, events from the past are used to develop the characters and plot lines in the novels. In The Round House, Mooshum’s stories of the windigoo that he tells in his dreams, the subplot involving Linda and Linden Lark, and the apparent negativity towards Catholicism shown on the reservation show the pervasive influence of the past on the present. In The God of Small Things, the inclusion of Pappachi’s moth throughout the novel, the constant referencing to the Love Laws, and continuing problems involving race relations show how much of an influence the past has on the present for the characters and the plot.
...such that individuals disregard the desires of others, even those who are supposedly close to them, in order to advance their own goals. The combination of subthemes allows her to easily juxtapose Velutha with those who aim to ruin his life. Roy also emphasizes the importance of caste and maintaining social status through her depiction of Velutha’s father’s reaction to his son’s affair with a woman of a higher social class. Roy’s political beliefs can be seen interspersed throughout the story and she repeatedly comments on the post-colonial situation in India through the actions of her characters. The amalgamation of Roy’s views on the moral quality of human beings and the political character of 20th century India come together to support her assertion that those who are overly selfless and spend no time trying to get ahead in life ultimately lose in the long-term.
...al norms to convey an escape from orthodoxy. Both vignettes use symbolism and diction to convey their message of escape. Both the narrator in “The Wish to Be a Red Indian” and the woman from “Rejection” wish for escape. However, woman also desires convention besides adventure and freedom, adding to the indecisive and contradictory tone of “Rejection.”
The Hero’s Walk, which takes place in the fictional India town of Toturpuram, describes two journeys: the metaphorical journey of a middle aged Indian man, Sripathi Rao, from a timid provincialism to a more global consciousness, and the literal journey of his seven year old granddaughter, Nandana, who comes from Canada to India to live with her grandparents after the death of her parents in a car accident. For both Sripathi and Nandana, the Journey involves a kind of culture shock, followed by a gradual opening out towards otherness. Sripathi‟s self enclosure is symbolized in his residence, Big House on Brahmin Street whose “dean strong walls” stand as a monument to a world in which caste and colonial structures guaranteed that everyone and
Her realization that she is not alone in her oppression brings her a sense of freedom. It validates her emerging thoughts of wanting to rise up and shine a light on injustice. Her worries about not wanting to grow up because of the harsh life that awaits her is a common thought among others besides the people in her community. As she makes friends with other Indians in other communities she realizes the common bonds they share, even down to the most basic such as what they eat, which comforts her and allows her to empathize with them.
Mohandas Gandhi was born into a Hindu family of the Vaisya caste. This was the third ranking caste in the class structure of Hinduism. This class was for farmers and merchants. The whole system was so complex that in Gandhi’s lifetime it had begun to disintegrate. Gandhi’s father and grandfather were not farmers or merchants. They were prime ministers of the tiny principality of Porbandar in Gujarat. Mohandas was extremely shy. He rushed to and from school, too nervous to talk to any of his classmates. Then a pretty and strong-willed girl was married to him by an arranged marriage at the age of 13. Her name was Kasturbai. A marriage at this age was typical in Hindu custom. He was a strict husband and kept control over actions. Kasturbai disliked this. They didn’t spend more than the first five years of their marriage together, since it was typical for the girl to visit her family. At this point in his life, he was very depressed. He was little and suffered fears that didn’t bother his wife. An athletic and older boy who was Muslim fascinated him. He told Mohandas to eat meat if he wanted to become bigger and stronger. He said the Indians were weak and small people, because they didn’t eat meat, and this is why the British, who did, had the strength to rule over them. This was against his religion, but he tried anyway. He ate the meat in secrecy, but after a few meals he stopped. He didn’t like the taste of meat and fe...
Mrs. Moore is a kind old woman that is traveling with Adela to India. She wants Adela to marry her son Ronny. Mrs. Moore first meets Dr. Aziz in a mosque and befriends him. She is very interested in seeing the entire country of India, not just the parts that the English had settled. However when the incident with the ...
When discussing the controversial authors of Indian literature, one name should come to mind before any other. Salman Rushdie, who is best known for writing the book “Midnights Children.” The first two chapters of “Midnights Children” are known as “The Perforated Sheet”. In “The Perforated Sheet” Rushdie utilizes magic realism as a literary device to link significant events and their effects on the lives of Saleem’s family to a changing India. In fact, it is in the beginning of the story that the reader is first exposed to Rushdie’s use of magic realism when being introduced to Saleem. “On the stroke of midnight/clocks joined palms” and “the instant of India’s arrival at independence. I tumbled forth into the world”(1711). Rushdie’s description of the clocks “joining palms” and explanation of India’s newfound independence is meant to make the reader understand the significance of Saleem’s birth. The supernatural action of the clocks joining palms is meant to instill wonder, while independence accentuates the significance of the beginning of a new era. Rushdie also utilizes magic realism as an unnatural narrative several times within the story to show the cultural significance of events that take place in the story in an abnormal way.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy tells the story of the communist state of Kerala and the forbidden love between two castes, which changes the lives of everyone. In the novel an ‘Untouchable’, Velutha is a carpenter and works at Paradise Pickles and Preserves for much less than he deserves because of his status as an Untouchable in the caste system. Velutha falls into a forbidden love with a divorced woman, Ammu who is associated with an upper caste Syrian Christian Ipe family. Marriage was the only way that Ammu could have escaped this life, but she lost the chance when marrying the wrong man, as he was an alcoholic and this resulted in them getting a divorce. Ammu breaks the laws that state ‘who should be loved, and how and how much’, as their affair threatens the ‘caste system’ in India, which is a hierarchal structure and social practice in India in which your position in society is determined and can’t be changed. Arhundati Roy portrays the theme of forbidden love within the caste systems and shows how they are t...
Historical fiction explains complex global issues by illustrating them through the lives of characters, who reveal the impacts of larger issues through their stories and conflicts. In political activist and author Arundhati Roy’s semi-autobiographical novel, The God of Small Things, seven year old twins Estha and Rahel grow up in Ayemenem, India in the wake of the abolition of the caste system, which still lurks behind many aspects of society. The twins are so close they often think of themselves as a single entity, and yet they are stark opposites in many ways, as Rahel is more spirited and unpredictable, while Estha is thoughtful and quiet. The arrival in India and subsequent death of their European cousin, Sophie Mol, throws the twins into
Gandhi is motivated by religious means; he believes that everyone is equal in God’s eyes. He gets involved in several movements for equality, and he stresses non-violence very strongly. The Indians are very mad because British rule continues to limit their rights. They are supposed to all get fingerprinted, and their marriage laws are invalid. Gandhi’s followers vow to fight their oppressors to the death, but he discourages them from violence.
The God of Small Things, a novel, by Arundhati Roy unravels the secrets of a family in India. Arundhati Roy uses an intriguing technique to tell the story of Ammu, Rahel, Estha, Sophie Mol, Velutha, Mammachi, Chacko, Margaret Kochamma, and Baby Kochamma. Roy starts the story by in a way paraphrasing all the events that are to occur throughout the story. She then proceeds to tell about the funeral of Sophie Mol and Ammu, Rahel, and Estha’s trip to the police station. She begins the story at the end. The reader does not find out until much later who Sophie Mol is and why Ammu and the twins went to the police station. Roy continues the story by jumping from Rahel and Estha’s childhood to their adulthood. Every chapter jumps from past to present. In every chapter Arundhati Roy answers or creates more questions about her characters lives for the reader. She uses repetition throughout the story to make the reader pay attention, remember, and wonder what she is trying to get across. Roy also uses wonderful metaphors, similes, and figurative language to ...
The God of Small Things is a novel that focuses on the events after the partitioning of India-Pakistan. The characters of Estha and Rahel are such that they symbolize this partition; they symbolize the two countries. The aftermath of the partitions affect both countries tremendously. Similarly, when Estha and Rahel were separated after Sophie Mol’s funeral, they felt a part of their identity was missing. “The emptiness in one twin was only a version of the quietness of the other… The two things fitted together. Like stacked spoons. Like familiar lovers’ bodies” (21). Once they were again reunited after 23 years, they felt the need for a closure in their relationship. Thus, Estha and Rahel have sex. This is something that must be hidden away, if not by the river like Ammu 's and Velutha 's affair, then in the silence behind closed doors. “They were strangers who had met in a chance encounter. They has known each other before Life began.” (pg.
The intent of Gandhi in Gandhi's inten was to remove the India he loved from trusting in the greatness and infallibility of Western Civilization and to encourage her to take pride in India’s own identity as a civilization and culture. His enthusiasm slightly exaggerates the grandeur of India and accounts for some margin of error in his esteem for his homeland, but Gandhi’s overall message is sound and wise; India must be proud of her heritage and mindful of sacrifice, for by these means, true freedom and true swaraj will be reached.
This total idea of challenging and creating a new identity may seem quite a utopian concept but it is not so impossible. The present paper will illustrate the writings of Mridula Garg and Arundhati Roy. The characters in their work are not extraordinary and utopian but common people like us whom we can come across in our day today life. Here for the purpose of analysis Garg’s three short stories have been chosen. They are: Hari Bindi, Sath Saal Ki Aurat and Wo Dusri.