Elements of Sexism in ‘The God of Small Things’

or

Roy as a Feminist Novelist

The novel ‘God of Small Things’ highlights the difficulties of living in a caste-based society. Arundhati Roy is a modern novelist and her novels have won wide acclaim all over the world because she deals with the issues of universal interest. Roy succeeded in discussing the matters which were previously taken as ‘social taboos’.

Roy has touched the issue of sexism in order to awaken awareness in the society in general and among the women in special. The false superiority and brutality on the part of manhood is considered to be the fate and final destiny of the women. Roy has webbed the gender-based complexities very successfully and intellectually. Almost every character of ‘God of Small Things’ is a debatable figure on the issue of sexism.

Mammachi was also one of the victims of sexism. She was the butt of Pappachi’s brutality just because he was a man. She was running ‘Paradise Pickles and Preserves’ all alone. She was more beautiful, intellectual and hardworking as compared to Pappachi. Pappachi was jealous of her qualities therefore;

“Every night he (Pappachi) beats her with a brass flower vase. The beatings were not new. What was new was only the frequency with which they took place.”

Roy clearly elaborates that Pappachi’s act of beating implies his desperation and deprivation.

Ammu cannot be spared in this respect. She was victimized throughout her life by one male or another. Her dilemma started from her very childhood. As she grew young, her education was thwarted when she got married to her own accord. Her decision was discouraged plainly as her marriage brought disgrace to the family’s honour.

Chacho, on the other hand, married a foreigner according to his own choice. But we see that no body raised a finger against his decision just because her was a man. However, Ammu was made a butt of criticism on the basis of gender discrimination.

Furthermore, Ammu’s drunkard husband ‘Babu’ was ordered by his boss ‘Mr. Hollicks’ to send his beautiful wife to his banglow because he was sexually fascinated towards her. Babu shows his male superiority and forces Ammu to comply with the demand of his boss. But she preferred to leave her husband. In fact, it was a society where women were taken as;

“A commodity, a sex object having no independent identity.”

Ammu’s sufferings show the typical issues of Postcolonial era which is generally marked with identity crisis. Ammu stood against the man-made so-called social norms. She was made deprived of each and every relationship. Being a daughter, she was crushed and being a wife, she was humiliated. In fact, Ammu had committed a grave mistake in a man dominated society. She finds some consolation in the company of Velutha. But we are informed that he was also entangled in the web of caste, creed and sexism.

Roy declares through the character of Pillai that the word ‘Divorce/d’ should be pronounced as ‘Die-vorce’ which means a state of life worse than death. The element of sexism proves bitter wherever it is stressed;

“A married woman has no place in her father’s house.”

The idea of sexism is further reinforced when Roy regretfully exclaims;

“A divorced woman has no place any-where in society.”

The state machinery i.e. Police, Court, and Laws also show indifference to the women on the basis of gender contrast. Women are not only deprived of their rights but they are also humiliated. Inspector Thomas Mathews searches Ammu’s body with his baton and Roy does not let the situation escape from her pen;

“Then he tapped her breast with his baton ……… Police have that instinct.”

Ammu was the daughter of Ayemenem House but she was not acknowledged as an heir to the property despite the fact that Indian act grants the share of property to the women. Ammu was neglected on the basis of sexism whereas Chacho always;

“Preferred to it as my factory, my pine apples and pickles.”

The elements of sexism become more evident ad apparent when we are informed about Chacko’s activities at his factory;

“He would call pretty women who worked in the factory to his room …. and flirt with them outrageously.”

There will be no fear of contradiction if we proclaim that Roy has depicted the true picture of her era in her novel ‘The God of Small Things’ where women were considered no more than a diseased insect in a stained pond. In fact, ‘The God of Small Things’ is a work of fiction pertaining to the sufferings of mute and suppressed creature i.e. women.

To conclude, Roy has fabricated ‘The God of Small Things’ with her brilliant intellect. She has succeeded in exposing the elements of sexism where women are neglected at each and every step of their life.