The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

The 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 society, and returns home with

her children. She is therefore thought of as a hindrance. Estha and

Rahel, the twins, manage to accept that they have no ‘Baba’ but are

greatly affected when their mother’s affair is revealed and the heroic

Untouchable is killed. Roy uses differentiated vocabulary and grammar

to inform the reader of the obvious change to the twin’s relationship

and alteration of their individual personalities before and after the

death of Velutha.

It is very important to note the structural complexity of The God of

Small Things. The events do not appear in chronological order except

when the twins are described after Velutha’s death. Roy decides to use

a linear structure for the twins after the death of Velutha, perhaps

to indicate the progressive reconstruction of their relationship.

Therefore by studying these sections of the novel where the twins are

mature one can refer to elements of the twin’s childhood and Roy’s use

of language to compare and contrast certain ideas whilst also giving a

clear representation of how the twins begin to re-establish their

relationship. It is also important to understand that the ‘fraternal

twins’ have an ‘emotional connection to one another that is stronger

than that of ...

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...ualised twins and in this way recognise in what way these

characters have changed.

It is certainly true that ‘the great pleasure of The God of Small

Things flows from its language’ (Wood). Roy’s use of words, images and

symbols makes us constantly compare the younger and older relationship

of the twins so we can understand its development and the change that

occurs. It appears that the twins are attempting to regain what they

once had and are able to mysteriously feel each other’s presence once

again by the end of the novel. However, whether they manage to reunite

and overcome the separation that occurs is left ambiguous. The only

way that they would be able to rectify what they once had is if they

realised that they are ‘not the sinners. You’re the sinned against.

You were only children. You had no control. You are the victims, not

the perpetrators.’