THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS

BY: JULIE NAVICKAS

Introductory Video

http://www.learner.org/courses/worldlit/the-god-of-small-things/watch/

A Post-colonial Text• The God of Small Things responds to and critiques the attitudes and practices of British colonialism by:• Emphasizing its political intent, which asserts the richness of

Indian indigenous cultures• Re-telling Indian history from the perspective of those colonized• Restoring the connection between Indians and their natural

environments from which they were alienated during colonialism

• Key Themes• Environmental Colonization • Love Relationships & Family Influence• Political & Social Structures

Environmental Colonization• The God of Small Things is concerned with exploring the effects of uneven development, resource extraction and environmental pollution.• The novel highlights the damaging effects of colonization on the Indian environment and draws attention to the ways in which Indian authorities and businesses continue to exploit natural resources.

• Examples:• Pappachi’s Moth• Baby Kochamma’s Garden

Love Relationships & Family Influence• Private love relationships are socially and politically regulated, as stated in Roy’s definition of “love laws” which “lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much.”

• Examples: • Romantic Love • Ammu & Velutha • Familial Love • Baby Kochamma forces Estha & Rahel to lie• Future Love • Estha socially isolates himself / Rahel divorces

Political & Social Structures • The “personal” is “political.”• Roy’s characters’ public and private lives are mediated by

intersecting social, political, and religious structures that profoundly affect:• Behavior within and outside the home• Relationships to other people• Jobs performed• Perceptions of the world

• The “big things” affect the “small things.” • Communism, caste, or religion alone cannot explain how and why Roy’s characters act. Over time, these structures and beliefs have changed, overlapped, and reinforced one another.

Discussion• The class will be split into three groups. Each table will receive 3 questions to discuss as a small group.

• Group #1: Environmental Colonization• Group #2: Love Relationships & Family Influence• Group #3: Political & Social Structures

•We will reconvene after 10-15 minutes to discuss as a larger group.