Questions and Answers for "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
1.Question: Who—or what—is the God of Small Things? What other names and what divine and earthly attributes are associated with this god? What—or who—are the Small Things over which this god has dominion, and why do they merit their own god? Does Roy's God of Small Things share attributes with any members of the Hindu pantheon?
Answer:Roy leads the readers to the small things in the big Indian society which is concerned with the caste system, political associations and social laws. Velutha is presented as the God of Small Things in the novel. In the novel, he is also presented with the names like an Untouchable, Paravan, The God of Loss and The God of Goose Bumps and Sudden Smiles.
Velutha is the upholder of the world of sacred, untouchable secrets, whispers, overlooked pieces of reality, promises, sins, and other emotional creatures. These things are insignificant for other characters who seek for big significant things and are struggling for culturally significant ideals such as an honourable family and a noble political life. Though honourable family and noble political life is significant, it does not mean that the values for love and emotions can be considered as insignificant. Love and emotions are more natural than the big things in the society. Roy called Velutha as the ‘God of Small Things’ because he holds those characters which are considered as small things in the society but in natural way they play very crucial role to live natural life in the society.
2. Question: What are the various laws, rules, and regulations—familial, social, cultural, political, and religious—including "the Love Laws," to which Roy makes repeated reference? What sanctions are in place for those who obey or transgress? Are all the kinds of love presented in the novel equally covered by "the Love Laws"?
Answer:‘The God of Small Things’ novel shows how social, familial, cultural, political and religious laws are more important than the natural laws in the big societies.
Answer:Roy leads the readers to the small things in the big Indian society which is concerned with the caste system, political associations and social laws. Velutha is presented as the God of Small Things in the novel. In the novel, he is also presented with the names like an Untouchable, Paravan, The God of Loss and The God of Goose Bumps and Sudden Smiles.
Velutha is the upholder of the world of sacred, untouchable secrets, whispers, overlooked pieces of reality, promises, sins, and other emotional creatures. These things are insignificant for other characters who seek for big significant things and are struggling for culturally significant ideals such as an honourable family and a noble political life. Though honourable family and noble political life is significant, it does not mean that the values for love and emotions can be considered as insignificant. Love and emotions are more natural than the big things in the society. Roy called Velutha as the ‘God of Small Things’ because he holds those characters which are considered as small things in the society but in natural way they play very crucial role to live natural life in the society.
2. Question: What are the various laws, rules, and regulations—familial, social, cultural, political, and religious—including "the Love Laws," to which Roy makes repeated reference? What sanctions are in place for those who obey or transgress? Are all the kinds of love presented in the novel equally covered by "the Love Laws"?
Answer:‘The God of Small Things’ novel shows how social, familial, cultural, political and religious laws are more important than the natural laws in the big societies.