God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy essays

God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy essays "?The God of Small Things", by Arundhati Roy, is a multi-layered novel structured in an intricate manner. Roy has covertly weaved and connected her ideas therefore requiring more than surface level analysis from her readers. As a result is the unusual yet successful narrative that garnered praise from most literary critics. The novel recounts the story of the Ipe family that lives in Aymenem, Kerala in post-colonial India. During the course of the story, the various members of the household each contribute to the unraveling of the series of events and the aftermath of Sophie Mols death is soon revealed. The novel is rich with literary devices such as symbolism and certain themes like the caste system. Roy creates vivid imagery through the use of colors that aim to evoke specific emotions in the readers as well as convey intertwining themes such as colonialism and oppression. The three main colors that are preset in novel are blue, red and yellow. However, the most dominant color throughout the novel is the color blue. Blue simply symbolizes imperialism and the superiority of the British. Pappachi, Baby Kochamma and Margaret Kochamma are the main representatives of the old social order that is under the threat of losing its grip on the local community" (Sadaf). These characters, in specific Pappachi and Baby Kochamma, attempt to hold onto and spread Anglophilia in their post-colonial society. It is ironic that these characters promote Anglophilia rather than search through history to try and salvage whatever is left of their soon to be non existent Indian culture and heritage. Therefore, Roy might be attempting to portray these characters dangerous loyalty to the British culture by constantly associating them with the color blue. As a result, these characters along with the color blue aid in spreading Roys warnings about the negative effect of coloniali sm on a countrys people. The main symbol of Bri...