Response Paper 10 The God Of Small T
Jeffrey Shelton
C LIT 300
11/23/02
Reading Response #10 - The God of Small Things
The element of paralysis both mentally and physically is a theme that plays out as the novel progresses. The main sense of this paralysis lies in the actions of Estha and his lack of speech within 1994. The chapter entitled “Big Man the Laltain, Small Man the Mombatti” added to Estha’s paralysis the element of touch and sight. As Rahel enters Estha’s room and witnesses his systematic undressing the notion that Estha is scarred by physical action in the past surfaces into the story. The text states “He didn’t look at her. He retreated into further stillness. As though his body had the power to snatch its senses inwards (knotted, egg-shaped).” (89) This statement relays the fact that Estha ignores his sister after they have been apart for so long. The word “egg-shaped” stuck into my head due to the visual representation of a person taking a shape and sheltering itself from the exterior world. This chapter was extremely short and only dealt with one topic so I kept it in the back of my mind as its importance had to be monumental. After reading the chapter “Abbilash Talkies” it is clear as to the significance of the word egg-shaped as it makes reference to the semen that was “white egg white” (99) which the lemondrink orangedrink man excreted. The encounter between the man and Estha finally gave the reader a clue as to why Estha is in a state of paralysis both mentally and physically. What interested me more then the revelation that Estha’s silence was instigated by being harassed sexually as a child was the duality of the word “egg” and its implications. I feel luck to have picked up on the use of the word as its importance is monumental in that it links together Estha’s actions as an adult to the result of his sexual abuse as a child. The use of word provided clarity to the story and delves deeper into Estha’s complex character.
C LIT 300
11/23/02
Reading Response #10 - The God of Small Things
The element of paralysis both mentally and physically is a theme that plays out as the novel progresses. The main sense of this paralysis lies in the actions of Estha and his lack of speech within 1994. The chapter entitled “Big Man the Laltain, Small Man the Mombatti” added to Estha’s paralysis the element of touch and sight. As Rahel enters Estha’s room and witnesses his systematic undressing the notion that Estha is scarred by physical action in the past surfaces into the story. The text states “He didn’t look at her. He retreated into further stillness. As though his body had the power to snatch its senses inwards (knotted, egg-shaped).” (89) This statement relays the fact that Estha ignores his sister after they have been apart for so long. The word “egg-shaped” stuck into my head due to the visual representation of a person taking a shape and sheltering itself from the exterior world. This chapter was extremely short and only dealt with one topic so I kept it in the back of my mind as its importance had to be monumental. After reading the chapter “Abbilash Talkies” it is clear as to the significance of the word egg-shaped as it makes reference to the semen that was “white egg white” (99) which the lemondrink orangedrink man excreted. The encounter between the man and Estha finally gave the reader a clue as to why Estha is in a state of paralysis both mentally and physically. What interested me more then the revelation that Estha’s silence was instigated by being harassed sexually as a child was the duality of the word “egg” and its implications. I feel luck to have picked up on the use of the word as its importance is monumental in that it links together Estha’s actions as an adult to the result of his sexual abuse as a child. The use of word provided clarity to the story and delves deeper into Estha’s complex character.