24th Annual Student Research Conference
Reading Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things as a Feminist Novel
Jordan H. Lewis
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Arundhati Roys novel The God of Small Things illustrates the sexist attitudes, as seen in the Ipe family, that condone mens sexuality at the same time that they criticize womens. Roys larger purpose, to highlight the domestic oppression of women, is shown in Mammachis two different responses to her daughter Ammus and son Chackos divorces. This is evidenced in her open condemnation of Ammu for her divorce and her acceptance of Chackos divorce as seen when she installs a door leading into his bedchamber to facilitate the entry of the female factory workers. While Mammachi is encouraging of his affairs, she indirectly causes Ammus death by rebuking her relationship with Velutha. This paper will, then, argue that Roys novel is a passive aggressive criticism of sexism in Indian social structure.
Keywords: sexism, domestic oppression, feminism
Topic(s):Asian Studies
English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 2-3
Location: VH 1236
Time: 8:30