The God of Small Thing
Excellent plot, subtle characterization, live and poetic language,deepexperiences,unconvential rhythm, logical statements, proper use of words,phrases,intonations and connotations,aptful melody and metaphore,these are all the characterstics of Arundhati Roy’s Booker prize winning novel,’ The God Of Small Things’.
This single book has established her as a great literary figure. Before it, she didn’t prove her craftsmanship. But her experiences and emotions made it possible. It is to be noted that great literary figure of world literature, T.S.Eliot holds the view in ‘Tradition and Individual Talent’ that poetry is not a turning loose of emotion but an escape from emotion. It is not the expression of personality but an escape from personality. Judged on the above observation,’ The God of Small Things’ seems to be a bit aloof. Because it is somewhat an expression of the author’s own personality.
The novel deals with a Syrian Christian family in Ayemenem,Kerala,Pappachi,the head of the family, comes from Delhi to his ancestral house to spend the years of his retirement. He is accompanied by his wife Mammachi, who is almost blind, Baby Kochamma living her life backwards, Chacko, the Rhodes scholar and the only son of Mammachi and Ammu a school-girl.Further, in the course of time Ammu marries a man of her own choice and gives birth to a twin, Rahel and Estha.Chacho marries Margaret, Margaret gives birth to a girl, Sophie Mol. Police inspector Thomas Mathew figure out in the novel.
Arundhati Roy’s characters have their own weaknesses and there own problems. They have their own different personalities.Photogaphic narration is another important feature of her writing. While reading the novel, the reader receives an impression to travel in Kerala.There are many small things came in the course of narration.Arundhati Roy concentrates her mind on presenting different trails of mind. With her highly cultivated language, she calculates her characters with their moods and temperaments.Finally, the book leaves an impression of reading an excellent novel on readers mind.