Summary
Arundhati Roy's debut novel The God of Small Things took the literary world by storm when it was published in 1997. This evocative family saga set in Kerala, India, went on to win the prestigious Booker Prize and catapulted Roy to international fame. With its nonlinear narrative and vivid prose, the novel explores themes of forbidden love, social injustice, and the lingering impacts of colonialism.
At its heart, The God of Small Things tells the story of fraternal twins Rahel and Estha, whose lives are irrevocably shaped by the events of their childhood in 1969. Roy deftly weaves together past and present, examining how seemingly small occurrences can have profound and lasting consequences. The novel's examination of India's rigid caste system and “Love Laws” provides a searing critique of societal constraints.
While The God of Small Things has not been adapted for film or television, its lyrical prose and complex characters continue to captivate readers more than 25 years after its initial publication. Roy's exploration of family, memory, and cultural identity resonates across cultures, cementing the novel's place as a modern classic of world literature. Its enduring popularity speaks to the universal truths at the core of this distinctly Indian story.
Plot
Set in Kerala, India, in 1969 and 1993, The God of Small Things follows the lives of fraternal twins Rahel and Estha Ipe. As children in 1969, their lives are dramatically changed by a visit from their English cousin, Sophie Mol. Shortly after her arrival, the twins’ mother, Ammu, begins a forbidden affair with Velutha, an “Untouchable” who works at the family's pickle factory. Then, Sophie drowns in a river accident while with Rahel and Estha.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, the twins' great-aunt, Baby Kochamma, falsely accuses Velutha of being responsible for Sophie's death. As a result, Velutha is brutally beaten by the police. To save herself, Baby Kochamma manipulates Estha into implicating Velutha. Though Ammu tries to reveal the truth, she is not believed. Velutha dies from his injuries, and Ammu is forced to send Estha away to live with his father.
The narrative shifts between 1969 and 1993, when Rahel returns to her hometown after years away. She reunites with Estha, who has not spoken since childhood due to the trauma he experienced. Their mother Ammu died years earlier, alone and outcast. Rahel and Estha, now adults, rekindle their close bond and eventually engage in an incestuous encounter.
Throughout the nonlinear story, Roy reveals how the rigid social structures, political tensions, and “Love Laws” of 1960s Kerala shaped the characters' fates. The “small things”–seemingly minor events, decisions, and experiences–are shown to have profound effects that reverberate across decades. Though reunited, Rahel and Estha remain damaged by the tragic events of their childhood that tore their family apart.
Themes
Love and forbidden relationships
Social discrimination and the caste system
Colonialism and its lasting effects
Family dynamics and dysfunction
Loss of innocence
Memory and the effects of trauma
Politics and social change
Setting
Set primarily in the small town of Ayemenem in Kerala, India, The God of Small Things unfolds against the backdrop of a post-colonial society grappling with political and social upheaval. The story spans two time periods - 1969 and 1993 - capturing the tensions and transformations of a nation in flux. Roy vividly evokes the lush, tropical landscape of Kerala, with its rivers, forests, and monsoon rains providing a stark contrast to the human dramas unfolding within.
The novel's 1969 timeline coincides with the rise of Communist movements in Kerala, reflected in scenes of Marxist demonstrations and political unrest. This turbulent era forms the crucible for many of the story's pivotal events. Meanwhile, the 1993 sections reveal how the repercussions of past actions continue to shape the characters' lives decades later, highlighting themes of memory, loss, and the lasting impact of societal constraints.
Within this broader setting, much of the action takes place at the Ayemenem House - the ancestral home of the Ipe family. This once-grand Syrian Christian household serves as a microcosm of the changing social order, its decaying grandeur mirroring the family's declining fortunes. Other key locations include the family's pickle factory, symbolizing their tenuous hold on social status, and the river where several crucial scenes unfold. Through these specific places, Roy explores how the personal and political intersect in the lives of her characters.
Characters
Rahel Ipe: One of the twin protagonists. As a child, she is impulsive and imaginative. After Sophie Mol's death, she is sent away to school and eventually moves to America. She returns to Ayemenem as an adult, haunted by her past. Rahel struggles to find her place in the world and reconnects with her twin Estha after many years apart.
Esthappen (Estha) Ipe: Rahel's twin brother and the other protagonist. As a child, he is more serious and observant than Rahel. After being forced to falsely accuse Velutha, Estha becomes mute and withdrawn. He is “re-Returned” to Ayemenem as an adult, where he lives a solitary existence until Rahel's return.
Ammu Ipe: The twins' mother. She escapes an abusive marriage and returns to her family home with Rahel and Estha. Ammu begins a forbidden relationship with Velutha, which has tragic consequences. She is forced to leave her children and dies alone at age 31, never recovering from the trauma of losing Velutha and being separated from her twins.
Velutha: A skilled carpenter from the “Untouchable” caste who works at the Ipe family's pickle factory. He is intelligent and politically active in the Communist movement. Velutha has a secret affair with Ammu, which leads to his brutal beating by police and eventual death after being falsely accused of kidnapping and murder.
Baby Kochamma: The twins' bitter great-aunt. She harbors unrequited love for an Irish priest and resentment towards Ammu and her children. Baby Kochamma manipulates events that lead to Velutha's death and the twins' separation, driven by her own prejudices and self-interest.
Chacko: Ammu's brother and the twins' uncle. He is an Oxford-educated “Marxist” who takes over the family's pickle business. Chacko is divorced from Margaret and mourns the death of his daughter Sophie Mol.
Sophie Mol: Chacko and Margaret's daughter who visits from England. Her accidental drowning is a pivotal event in the story.
Margaret Kochamma: Chacko's ex-wife and Sophie Mol's mother. She briefly visits Ayemenem with Sophie.
Quick facts
Arundhati Roy devoted four years to writing The God of Small Things, her debut novel.
The book won the prestigious Booker Prize in 1997.
Roy received a £500,000 advance for the novel— an unusually large amount for a first-time author.
The God of Small Things won the prestigious Booker Prize in 1997.
The story is set in Kerala, India, where the author grew up.
Shifting between 1969 and 1993, the novel explores themes of forbidden love, social discrimination, and the lasting effects of British colonialism in India.
The novel's non-linear narrative structure echoes the process of recalling repressed memories.
Roy uses unique stylistic techniques like capitalizing certain words and phrases for emphasis.
The God of Small Things faced controversy and obscenity charges in India for its frank depiction of sexuality.
Roy did not publish another novel for 20 years after The God of Small Things, until 2017's The Ministry of Utmost Happiness.
The God of Small Things has been translated into more than 40 languages worldwide.
In 2014, The Daily Telegraph ranked The God of Small Things as one of the 10 greatest Asian novels of all time.
In 2019, the BBC included it on their list of the 100 most influential novels.
In 2022, The God of Small Things was named to the “Big Jubilee Read” list celebrating 70 years of Commonwealth literature.
About the Author
Arundhati Roy is an acclaimed Indian author and political activist. She is best known for her 1997 debut novel The God of Small Things, winner of the Booker Prize and an international bestseller, with translations into more than 40 languages. Her only other novel to date, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, was published in 2017. Despite a 20-year gap between novels, Roy remained in the public eye for her essays, speeches, and involvement in various causes.
Born in 1961 in Shillong, India, Roy studied architecture before turning to writing. Beyond her novels, she is recognized as a prominent essayist and outspoken critic of globalization and US foreign policy. Her nonfiction works like The Cost of Living and The Algebra of Infinite Justice tackle issues such as environmental degradation, human rights, and economic inequality. Roy's activism has often courted controversy, particularly her vocal support for Kashmiri independence and criticism of India's nuclear program.
Over her career, Roy has received numerous awards for both her literary achievements and activism. These include the Sydney Peace Prize, the Norman Mailer Prize for Distinguished Writing, and a place on TIME magazine’s list of the top 100 most influential people.
