Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things

Though the novel is undeniably about the twins; Esthappen and Rahel, who can be considered as the protagonists of the novel and the narrative view of the authoress, intrinsically this novel is an argument for and against the good and evil in society with special reference to women.

The novel throws light on some important things of life like how love is always associated with sadness, how a person’s childhood experiences affect his/her perspectives and whole life. The novel shows the ugly face of people and society as a whole, a vivid description of the black and sarcastic world especially with reference to women that dwells around us.

The God of small thins highlights the position of women folk in India. It presents before us the constant struggle of women against their incessant exploitation, torture and struggle which they undergo because of the male dominated conservative society.

In the novel “The God Of Small Things”, there are three generations of women. Each of them was born and raised under different circumstances. Each of them was born and raised under different circumstances. Starting from the oldest generation, there is Mammachi, then the generation of Ammu, and the youngest generation is Rahel. These women live according to the prevailing customs of Hinduism. Susan Wadley and Doranne Jacobson conclude that according to Hindu culture, there are dual views on women. First, woman is considered benevolent and bestower, second view is that, woman is aggressive, malevolent and a destroyer.

Maachi’s family although they are Syrian Christians, since they live in India, they cannot avoid being influenced by Hinduism. Mammachi lives under the control of men. She got married in puberty with a man seventeen-years older ...

... middle of paper ...

...rundhati who tried to open the eyes of Indian community towards the callousness of treating women as objects. Women thus treated are considered soulless beings, sub-human and playthings for men. This imbalance in society explains much of the unhappiness prevailing in our families and the battered lives of children who are exposed to this very partial and unjust view of life. The end result is a paralysed society unable and unwilling to grow.

Works Cited

1. Beavior, Simone de. The Second Sex London: Vintage series, 2011.

2. Prasad, Amar Nath. Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things: a critical appraisal New Delhi: Sarup & Sons, 2004.

3. Rajimwale, Sharad. Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things: a critical appraisal New Delhi: Rama Brothers India Pvt. Ltd., 2006.

4. Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. New Delhi: Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd, 2002.