28th Annual Student Research Conference
A Marxist Criticism of Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things
Evan T. Cioni
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things is a scathing attack on India's caste system as it is present within Kerala, where the novel takes place. The elected communist government of Kerala treats the lower class members, or untouchables, as subhuman despite the fact that the mistreatment of a group of people based on class is normally a practice that communism stands against. Through analysis of the text, this paper will make clear that the ideals of communism have bent to suit India's caste system, and much of the conflict within the novel is a result of these ideals being mixed.
Keywords: The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy, Marxism, Classism
Topic(s):English
Asian Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 202-4
Location: VH 1010
Time: 11:45