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Who is responsible for the tragic end of Ammu in The God of Small Things

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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.

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Who is responsible for the tragic end of Ammu in “The God of Small Things”? 

Ammu is the mother of Rahel and Estha and the sister of Chacko. She is the heroine of the novel The God of Small Things (1997) by Arundhati Roy (1961-present). Most of the members of the Ayemenem family played crucial roles in destroying Ammu after the Velutha incident, which coincided with Sophie Mol’s death. 

Arrogant Mentality of Baby Kochamma: Baby Kochamma is an arrogant mentality woman. She always hates lower-class people. Velutha is a lower-class man, but he loves Ammu. Baby Kochamma wants to take revenge on Velutha because of his untouchability.  She represents Ammu:

Because she saw her quarrelling with a fate that she herself. felt she had graciously accepted, the fate of the wretched Man-less woman.

She never reconciled herself to Ammu’s presence in Ayemenem House. She fabricated her own story and made the Police Inspector finish off Velutha. When it was found that Estha and Rahel were missing, Baby Kochamma sent her servant to Kochu Maria to look for them.

Societal Norms and Prejudices: Societal norms and prejudices play a significant role. Ammu’s status as a divorced woman in conservative Indian society marks her as an outcast, subjected to judgment and discrimination. Her relationship with Velutha, a lower-caste man, defies societal boundaries and leads to severe repercussions. The rigid caste system and its associated taboos create an environment where their love is doomed from the start.

Family’s Rude Attitude: Chacko and her mother also disturbed her. She observed an undercurrent of Mammachi’s sexual jealousy. Again, Baby Kochamma’s conversation at the dining table meant to exclude Ammu and her children, and this was in tune with the attitude of the other two.

In termination, we can say that when such consequences continue in Ammu’s life, her family members play an important role in driving her away from home. When Ammu moves away from her family, she has to struggle a lot to survive. His health broke down, and he became very depressed. At the time of his death, there was no one to put a drop of water in her mouth. In such a situation, he died alone without finding anyone.