The first part of the paper deals with the hierarchies in Indian society, especially problems in the family network, in the cast system and in the gender roles.
The second part applies this information to Roy's novel. Ammu's and Chacko's relationships to spouses and lovers, which show many parallels, are compared.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Social and Sexual Hierarchies
2.1 Family
2.2 Caste
2.3 Gender, Marriage and Sexuality
3 Analysis of Relationships
3.1 Ammu’s and Chacko’s Marriages
3.2 Chacko, Margaret Kochamma and Mammachi
3.3 Male and Female Sexuality
3.4 Ammu and Velutha
4 Conclusion
5 Works Cited
5.1 Primary Literature
5.2 Secondary Literature
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the complex interplay between private male-female relationships and the rigid social hierarchies in Arundhati Roy’s novel "The God of Small Things." It explores how the transgression of caste and gender boundaries profoundly impacts the lives of family members, highlighting the disparity in societal reactions based on gender and status.
- The influence of Indian societal hierarchies on individual self-awareness and family structure.
- The intersection of caste, gender, and sexuality as modes of patriarchal oppression.
- A comparative analysis of the diverging societal responses to the divorces and personal choices of Ammu and Chacko.
- The symbolic and social significance of the forbidden love affair between Ammu and Velutha.
- The role of the extended family in enforcing social order and punishing non-conformity.
Excerpt from the Book
3.4 Ammu and Velutha
Unlike Chacko, Ammu does not start her extramarital affair to only fulfil her sexual needs. Her despair about losing her single chance of a better life by marrying the wrong man makes her rebel against the restrictions of patriarchal society (Cf. Oumhani 2000: 88). Her love affair with Velutha is “an attempt at repossessing, renaming, reowning the world” (Chanda 1997: 40). Hidden by the night, she can walk “out of her world like a witch. To a better, happier place.” (GST: 332).
She enters into the love affair with Velutha because he is the only one to perceive her as a human being outside social hierarchies: “he saw that Rahel’s mother was a woman. […] That she had gifts to give him too.” (GST: 176f.) He recognizes her human ability to give and receive love; she, in turn, disregards his untouchable state and sees him as an attractive man. But, in a patriarchal society determined by hierarchies, such a simple vision has no right of existence (Cf. Khot 2001: 220).
Having an extramarital affair with someone from the lowest caste, Ammu has committed two unthinkable transgressions at once. While Chacko can pursue his affairs with the lower caste factory workers, Ammu’s “situation has a stronger resonance because in Indian society it is considered a more serious offence for an upper caste woman to be polluted by interacting sexually with an Untouchable than it would be for a man.” (Almeida 2002: 263f.) The severity of her crime is stressed by the simple fact that Velutha’s skin is extremely dark which makes him the ‘ultimate’ untouchable.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the core research focus: how crossing social and sexual boundaries within private relationships affects a Syrian Christian family in Kerala as depicted in the novel.
2 Social and Sexual Hierarchies: This section provides a foundation for the analysis by describing the prevailing hierarchies in Indian society, specifically focusing on the structure of the extended family, the caste system, and gender-based constraints on marriage and sexuality.
3 Analysis of Relationships: This chapter investigates the specific dynamics between characters, comparing how the patriarchal society treats Ammu and Chacko differently, and analyzing the consequences of their sexual transgressions.
4 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the double standards of patriarchy and reinforces how society punishes any attempt by the suppressed to build private relationships outside of established norms.
5 Works Cited: This section lists the primary novel text and the secondary academic literature used for the analysis.
Key Terms
Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things, Patriarchy, Social Hierarchies, Indian Caste System, Varna, Jati, Untouchability, Gender Discrimination, Extramarital Affairs, Syrian Christian Family, Transgression, Cultural Studies, Female Sexuality, Social Status
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper explores the interaction between private male-female relationships and the rigid social hierarchies within Arundhati Roy’s novel "The God of Small Things," focusing on how these hierarchies dictate the treatment of individuals.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The central themes include the intersection of the caste system, gender roles, patriarchal structures, marriage, and the regulation of female versus male sexuality in Indian society.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to analyze how the crossing of social and sexual boundaries within private relationships leads to different consequences for the individuals involved, reflecting the deep-seated modes of oppression in Indian society.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author uses a literary and cultural studies approach, analyzing the novel through the lens of academic secondary sources regarding social hierarchies, caste studies, and feminist readings of Indian society.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the institutional influence of the family and caste system, a comparative study of the marriages of Ammu and Chacko, the gendered double standards of sexual conduct, and the specific repercussions of the affair between Ammu and Velutha.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include patriarchy, caste system, social hierarchies, gender roles, transgression, untouchability, and the specific literary analysis of Arundhati Roy’s narrative.
How does the author explain the difference in treatment between Ammu and Chacko?
The author argues that while both characters commit similar "transgressions" by divorcing and choosing their own partners, Chacko is protected by his status as a son and male, whereas Ammu is severely punished and ostracized for violating the patriarchal order.
What role does Mammachi play in the family dynamics?
Mammachi is portrayed as someone who submits to patriarchal rules, shifting her maternal love toward her son Chacko while simultaneously helping to enforce the family's harsh response to Ammu’s rebellion.
- Quote paper
- Eleni Stefanidou (Author), 2007, Social and sexual hierarchies: Male-female relationships in Arundhati Roy's "The God of Small Things", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/72951
