The novel The God Of Small Things, written by Keralite Arundhati Roy, follows two twins living in Kerala, India. The twin protagonists, Estha and Rahel Ipe, face many tribulations such as love, abuse, death, and complex family relationships, most of which are caused by the social stratification in India. Based on the words of Roy, it is imperative to understand that these norms in Kerala created social boundaries surrounding the romantic and agapic love the Malayali people could share. This was demonstrated in the treatment of paravans (also known as “untouchables”) in the 1900s, perspective on the family’s marriages, and the forbidden romance between the protagonists’ mom, Ammu, and Velutha.
The harsh, dehumanizing treatment of the untouchables …show more content…
This is evident in the general way paravans were treated, as they were subjected to horrific conditions, making it unthinkable to associate with an untouchable. Worse, marrying a person from a lower caste or divorcing a man would degrade social status, tarnishing a reputation even in the eyes of one’s own family. In The God of Small Things, this system created prejudice among members of the family, making agapic relationships difficult to form. Finally, because Ammu and Velutha were romantically involved, the social system lashed at them. They were punished according to their social status, Ammu being locked in isolation and Velutha left in conditions on the brink of death. Social stratifications, norms, and caste systems are still prevalent in all corners of the world, especially in India. Conditions for paravans have hardly improved, as they are still relegated to low jobs, such as collecting human fecal matter (Campbell, “India’s ‘Untouchables’”). As Roy emphasizes throughout her novel, this divide does not only harm them physically and mentally, but it takes away from even the most innocent of relationships. Because of this, it is essential to raise awareness and improve these conditions around the world, especially
The harsh, dehumanizing treatment of the untouchables …show more content…
This is evident in the general way paravans were treated, as they were subjected to horrific conditions, making it unthinkable to associate with an untouchable. Worse, marrying a person from a lower caste or divorcing a man would degrade social status, tarnishing a reputation even in the eyes of one’s own family. In The God of Small Things, this system created prejudice among members of the family, making agapic relationships difficult to form. Finally, because Ammu and Velutha were romantically involved, the social system lashed at them. They were punished according to their social status, Ammu being locked in isolation and Velutha left in conditions on the brink of death. Social stratifications, norms, and caste systems are still prevalent in all corners of the world, especially in India. Conditions for paravans have hardly improved, as they are still relegated to low jobs, such as collecting human fecal matter (Campbell, “India’s ‘Untouchables’”). As Roy emphasizes throughout her novel, this divide does not only harm them physically and mentally, but it takes away from even the most innocent of relationships. Because of this, it is essential to raise awareness and improve these conditions around the world, especially