Briefly narrate the series of events that lead to Sophie Mol’s death.
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, to various questions of The God of Small Things.
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Question: Briefly narrate the series of events that lead to Sophie Mol’s death.
In Arundhati Roy’s novel The God of Small Things, Sophie Mol’s tragic death is caused by a series of interconnected events deeply entwined with the complexities of social norms, family dynamics, and forbidden love.
The main action centers around Sophie Mol’s visit to Ayemenem. Joe dies in an accident, and Chacko invites Margaret Kochamma to Ayemenem for the holidays. Estha, Rahel, Ammu, Chacko, and Baby Kochamma make a trip to the airport, and on the way, their car is trapped by a Communist march. The family then goes to see The Sound of Music, and the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man, a vendor at the theater, molests Estha. The next day, Sophie and Margaret arrive, and the family returns to Ayemenem.
Estha fears that the Orangedrink Man will come for him, so he and Rahel find a boat and row across the river to the “History House,” the abandoned home of an Englishman who “went native.” The twins set up a hideout there. The twins decide to run away to the History House, and Sophie Mol comes with them. Their boat tips over as they cross the river, and Sophie Mol drowns. The twins reach shore and, terrified, fall asleep in the History House, unaware that Velutha is there too.
Baby Kochamma goes to the police, telling Inspector Thomas Mathew that Velutha tried to rape Ammu and kidnapped the children. Six policemen find Velutha and beat him brutally in front of Estha and Rahel. When Mathew finds out that Velutha is innocent, he threatens to charge Baby Kochamma. Terrified for herself, she convinces Estha to “save Ammu” by telling the police that Velutha killed Sophie Mol. Velutha dies in jail that night. After Sophie Mol’s funeral, Baby Kochamma convinces Chacko to throw Ammu out of the house.