God of small things by arundati roy - is love greater than caste - Essay Example

But does that mean love is stronger than caste? In the case of Ammu and Velutha, it certainly was but only in their eyes. It was not even conceivable in the eyes of others. Paravans were one of those untouchables that Ammu’s family had known for a long time but never considered them an equal in any sense of the word. For them Paravans were to be treated like all other untouchables in the land: “In Mammachi’s time, Paravans, like other untouchables were not allowed to walk on public roads, not allowed to cover their upper bodies, not allowed to carry umbrellas.

They had to put their hands over their mouths when they spoke, to divert their polluted breath away from those whom they addressed.” (p. 71) The novel makes use of some amazing imagery to adequately explain the intensity or enormity of important things. For example, when talking about religion in Kerala, Roy writes: "Christianity arrived in a boat and seeped into Kerala like tea from a tea bag." (p.38). Ammu was a young divorced woman with two children who are twins. The author uses imagery and similes again to define Ammu’s personality: “Ammu was an unmixable mix.

The infinite tenderness of motherhood and the reckless rage of a suicide bomber." (p. 44). Divorce in itself was a huge stigma in those times and to get it at a very such age was even more painful for the victim. Ammu had to live in her mother’s house, almost like a subdued servant since she couldn’t even enjoy the dignity of having her own place. She was dependent on her parents for shelter. At that age, which according to the narrator was “a viable, die-able age”, Ammu still had sexual urges; she still dreamed of being loved and touched and must have fantasized about having a relationship.

However being a divorcee, the chances of that ever happening were slim and at 30, she was stuck