Originally posted by lazybum
hi Samsa,
what was the God of Small things about again? I remember reading it about a year ago. It was something about India and children or something... (i must have been sleeping when i read it!)
Hard to sum up succintly, but the narrative is centred upon the 1960's childhood of the 'two-egg' twins Estha and Rahel, in the Indian region of Ayemenem, and the ultimately fatal visit of a British relative, Sophie Mol. However, this is expressed in a non-linear manner, with several 'mysteries' ultimately revealed, and the plot touching upon many issues.
Among the most important of these are;
-Post-Colonialism.. (
The History House..'But we can't go in,' Chacko explained, 'because we've been locked out...Our minds have been invaded by a war. A war that we have won and lost, the very worst sort of war. A war that captures dreams and re-dreams them. A war that has made us adore our conquerors and despise ourselves.-pp.52-3.
-Explorations of the changing nature of society and history (As seen in Rahel's return to Ayemenem in adulthood..),
-Subtextual power relations (The caste system, misogyny, racism), and so-on..
But yes, you could say its 'seomthing about India and children or something', but thats merely the surface.