The God of Small Things (TGOSM) by Arundhati Roy and Barbara Mutch’s The Housemaid’s Daughter (THD) explore an individual’s changing perception of themselves within a corrupt society during the 1960’s Communist era in India and the Apartheid era. TGOSM is set in Kerala, India and revolves around the traumatic childhood of two twins and THD is set in Cradock, South Africa where a black girl is raised within a white family, both facing adversity. They explore the lack of proper familial relationships that create a foundation for one’s values at a young age. This results into a loss of their innocence as the values taught are compromised and changes their self-perception when facing injustices. For these reasons, both texts reflect that an individual’s familial relations and loss of innocence affects their sense of self due to discriminatory and oppressive cultural expectations.
Firstly, in TGOSM, Arundhati Roy explores the effect of absent immediate family members on an individual’s social and internal development under the Indian Caste System. Ammu grew up in an educated family who sought for values that reflected a perfect exterior by concealing her father’s abusive treatment. Her father’s harsh, manipulative ways were an act of “cold, calculating cruelty” (Roy, 1997, p. 181) showing Ammu’s bitter sadness that resides within her through an alliteration. It is evident that Pappachi has little respect for …show more content…
Both texts highlight that an individual perceives themselves negatively due to an absent father and early sexual experiences. However, the contextual influences and upbringings differed the degree of impact to one’s sense of self through highlighting the cultural expectations that the society has set for the
Firstly, in TGOSM, Arundhati Roy explores the effect of absent immediate family members on an individual’s social and internal development under the Indian Caste System. Ammu grew up in an educated family who sought for values that reflected a perfect exterior by concealing her father’s abusive treatment. Her father’s harsh, manipulative ways were an act of “cold, calculating cruelty” (Roy, 1997, p. 181) showing Ammu’s bitter sadness that resides within her through an alliteration. It is evident that Pappachi has little respect for …show more content…
Both texts highlight that an individual perceives themselves negatively due to an absent father and early sexual experiences. However, the contextual influences and upbringings differed the degree of impact to one’s sense of self through highlighting the cultural expectations that the society has set for the