Comparing Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Chinua Archebe’s Things Fall Apart

3022 Words7 Pages

Comparing Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Chinua Archebe’s Things Fall Apart Literature is an amazing form of expression. A multitude of things can be said so in so many creative ways. Whether the story that is being told is true or fiction, the important thing is how it is told. The structure of a story is what gives it power, strength and the ability to move readers. Arundhati Roy and Chinua Achebe are two very talented authors who express their stories in two very different and unique ways. Although their stories are structurally different they have many similarities regarding class structure, societal issues, moral and family betrayals, and tragedy. 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 ... ... middle of paper ... ... one who killed his own son. He did not want to look weak in front of his fellow clan members. Okonkwo suffered internally for what he did. Despite the fact that these novels by Roy and Archebe differ widely in structure, they share many common themes. Both authors had their own special way of getting the story out, yet wanted to show the same things. Class structures, societal issues, moral and family betrayal all play a huge part in the lives of their characters. Many times these themes had terrible consequences and even ended up causing tragedy. These three things had the ability to change history forever. Work Cited: Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. New York. 1997. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 2c seventh edition. Archebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart.

Show More
Related

  • The Stubborness of Okonkwo

    389 Words  | 1 Pages

    Okonkwo was deeply grieved. And it was not just a personal grief. He mourned for the clan, which he saw breaking up and falling apart, and he mourned for the warlike men of Umofia, Who had so unaccountably become soft like women.

    Read More

  • Textual Analysis of Epic of Gilgamesh and Book of Genesis of the Holy Bible

    1051 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through analyzing passages from both works, one can see how the author's environment and worldview has helped to shape the style and mood of each text. Both texts share a common event although told through different cultures. Even more, the unique perspectives of this tale help to develop the whole ambience of each document. Eac author unknowingly leaks valuable insight about his time and culture into his account to be locked in time for thousands of years. Now that's something real special.

    Read More

  • Themes In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    562 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the book “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe certain themes are present in the the

    Read More

  • Causal Determinsim

    1456 Words  | 3 Pages

    Compatiblists propose that free will and determinism coexist while to incompatibilists that would be impossible. If we are to decide for ourselves then firstly we must establish the meanings of causal determinism and freedom of the will. Proponents of causal determinism contend that

    Read More

  • Desire of the Fourteenth Century Women

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Abrams M. H, et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 7th ed. New York: W. Norton & Company, 2000.

    Read More

  • The Power of Fear in The Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

    590 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unlike his father, Okonkwo is a hard worker with little debt and a driven personality. His internal fear leads to his decision to beat his wife during the week of peace and to take part in the mandatory action of killing his beloved son, Ikemefuna.

    Read More

  • Okonkwo's Character Development In Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Okonkwo’s shame and fear of being seen as weak drove him to be a cruel leader in his tribe and a harsh ruler in his household. In describing this harshness, Achebe writes:

    Read More

  • Consumption And Consumption Theory

    2464 Words  | 5 Pages

    Throughout history the connection between consumption and capitalism has played an integral part towards social changes that have occurred. As society changed so did the theories used to explain why these changes seemed the way they were. The sociology of Consumption has been rooted within sociological theory since its earliest days for example from Karl Marx’s ideas of utilisation of use-values (Marx, Engels and Arthur, 1972). However even within in these roots the influx of research only began to occur within last few decades. The sociology of consumption provides another route in which theorists can study society. As Marshall (1998) believed that sociology theory had for a long time been eclipsed by theories such as alienation and social class to name a few that are constantly being used to explain the basics of the social order and conflict with it. Although consumption has grown within the last few decided it’s not an easy term to define as there is not a standardised definition as many people believe when talking about consumption they already understand what is meant by the world. However it’s more likely they understand the word in terms of what it means to “consume” as the majority of society consumes on a daily basis.

    Read More

  • Tragic Hero In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    1141 Words  | 3 Pages

    The concept of a tragic hero is one of the most notable and widespread literary tropes, having been in existence for over some 2000 years. As defined by Aristotle in his Poetics, a tragic hero is someone who undergoes a struggle far more potent than deserved. Chinua Achebe’s novel, Things Fall Apart, exhibits a tragic hero through its protagonist, Okonkwo. Achebe achieves this status through his tragic flaw of excessive pride, his ultimate demise caused by said pride, and his ability to evoke fear and pity within the audience.

    Read More

  • Consumption and Identity

    1714 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many theorists suggest that consumption is correlated to the identity of an individual, that by purchasing goods from the mass market, it enables us to visibly establish our position within society. This differs from previous times in which a range of factors such as family histories, character and personal achievements played a significant role (Gabriel and Lang, 2006). Instead, there is the idea that the consumer has the ability to gain pleasure over objects, not just solely by the manipulation of objects, but through the degree of control over their meaning. The degree of control is developed and achieved through imagination and provides greater possibilities of pleasure experiences. This suggests that modern consumption can be seen as device that enables individuals to ‘dream’ about the desires they wish to fulfill. (Campbell, 1989: 79) (Cited in Gabirel & Lang, 2006)

    Read More

  • A Feminist Perspective of The Lady of Shalott

    2170 Words  | 5 Pages

    113- The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 6th ed. of the book. Vol.

    Read More

  • Freedom and Determinism

    2359 Words  | 5 Pages

    Freedom, or the concept of free will seems to be an elusive theory, yet many of us believe in it implicitly. On the opposite end of the spectrum of philosophical theories regarding freedom is determinism, which poses a direct threat to human free will. If outside forces of which I have no control over influence everything I do throughout my life, I cannot say I am a free agent and the author of my own actions. Since I have neither the power to change the laws of nature, nor to change the past, I am unable to attribute freedom of choice to myself. However, understanding the meaning of free will is necessary in order to decide whether or not it exists (Orloff, 2002).

    Read More

  • Relationship Between Estu And Velutha In The God Of Small Things

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Essay On Hedonism

    947 Words  | 2 Pages

    For several decades, as if, a typical undergraduate dream has been characterized with few major steps – getting prestigious high education, taking or buying a diploma, and consequently becoming a successful rich careerist with intuitively main goal to consume as much as possible in order to boost one’s utility at highest potential level. In this way of thinking, development of personal individualism and pursue of human values are left behind the curtains. Everything that can be seen on the scene of our being is mass consumerism, which slowly, gradually, but surely is transferring us into a hedonistic consumer society. According to an article in European Journal of Marketing, “A consumer society is defined as one directed largely by the accumulation and consumption of material goods. The term "consumer society" is used in a pejorative sense, coming from the perception that such a society will inevitably be hedonistic. It is the search for instant gratification that we traditionally associate with hedonism….”(41 Issue: 2007). In our way to gain deep pleasure, we are over purchasing items and gadgets which once were thought to be extreme luxuries. Most of the times, we are interested in what kind of IPhone we possess, whether to buy a tablet or a laptop, are we are driving more expensive and fancy car than the others, what is more fashionable – a pair of Armani jeans or a pair of Dolce and Cabaña trousers.

    Read More

  • "All must love the human form"

    1050 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marshall, Kristine E. "William Blake." Marshall, Kristine E. Elements of Literature 6th Course. Orlando: Hott, Rhinehart, and Winston, 1977. 640.

    Read More

More about Comparing Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things and Chinua Archebe’s Things Fall Apart

Open Document