In the novel The God of Small Things, how does the writer satirize the caste system of India?
The God of Small Things is a notable literary work by Arundhati Roy. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The God of Small Things.
Answer
In the novel The God of Small Things, how does the writer satirize the caste system of India?
“The God of Small Things” (1997) is one of the Iconic novels of Arundhati Roy (1961-Present). She satirizes the caste system of India in the novel. The caste system in India is the paradigmatic ethnographic instance of social classification based on castes. It has its origins in ancient India and was transformed by various ruling elites in medieval, early-modern, and modern India. In the novel, Arundhati Roy classifies the characters based on castes like touchable and untouchable. Here are some points of discussion regarding her satire of the caste system in the novel.
Mocking the Language of Caste: Roy uses language to satirize the caste system by mimicking the formal and rigid language used to describe and enforce caste hierarchy. For example, she refers to the “touchables” and the “untouchables” instead of using their proper caste names. It highlights the dehumanizing language of the caste system. Roy satirizes this discrimination by using sarcastic language to describe the caste system, as in this quote,
No ‘untouchable’ was allowed to touch a Hindu. The laws were there, but people found ways around them.
Discrimination of Caste System: In “The God of Small Things,” Roy mentions the discrimination of the caste system or touchable and untouchable. In the Novel, three characters belong to the category of the downtrodden or the untouchables. They are Vellya Paapen and his two sons, Kuttapen and Velutha. Traditionally, they are toddy trappers belonging to an untouchable caste.
The author gives a perfect picture of the Dalits with the device of the trio—Vellya Paapen, Kuttapen, and Velutha—who represent three types of Indian Dalits: the docile conformist, the discontented paralytic, and the rebel who moves for equality and risks his life.
The Absurdity of Caste Rules: The novel shows how the strict rules of the caste system can be arbitrary and absurd, such as the idea that the shapeUnlock this study guide now