‘The God of Small Things’: A Narrative of Catastrophic Misogynistic Approach

Abstract

Arundhati Roy is one of the most noted Indian novelist, essayist and activist who mainly stresses on issues related to social justice and economic inequalities. She is the writer who has created ripples round the globe by her gripping write-ups. She has been rightly awarded and bestowed with honour for her daring effort. She stands as the most controversial author amongst the clutch of contemporary Indo-Anglian writers. My simple reason for choosing her work is that I vehemently feel the contemporary critics have failed in bringing forth her true identity as a sensitive writer. She is not a traitor but a ‘world denizen with humane concern’. Her novel ‘The God of Small Things’ has harboured huge worldwide literary attention for its unique writing style and sensational story line. It is acknowledged as a complex and diverse piece of writing that incorporates varied themes such as marriage, divorce, abuse, death, alienation, gender issue, class division and political and religious conflict. The present paper deals with the kaleidoscopic inter play of relationships in the male chauvinistic society, highlighting the dominant role of elderly women whose guidance and stringent norms ruin the life of the younger female generation. The story takes the readers in its stride and enwraps them in its roller coaster ride until breathless.