Love Laws

“They had all broke the rules…They all tampered with the laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much…” (Roy 31).

The love laws and their role in society have a large impact on the plot of this story.  Throughout the novel, Roy refers back to the love laws as she repeats the line “the laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much,” showing the reader that these laws are intended to dictate one’s life and to keep love between two people of the same social class. But, like most archaic laws, this law is meant to be broken.  Love should be something natural and open to all, not controlled by a government law. Who one ends up truly loving (not the spouse in an arranged marriage) is most times out of that person’s control, like Ammu falling in love with an untouchable and Baby Kochamma falling in love with a priest.  In the quote above, Roy describes the moment when Rahel realizes that she is not the only one who has broken these laws to pursue forbidden love--- everyone has.  Rahel’s realization on page 31 and Roy's repetition of the role of these laws the throughout the novel show the great effect these love laws have on society, her family, and the story as a whole, making sense of the description on the back cover page of the novel: a “forbidden love story.”  

Baby Kochamma

Baby Kochamma, the great aunt of Estha and Rahel, is the very selfish, spiteful antagonist in The God of Small Things.  In the novel, thus far, she is seen manipulating others and insulting Ammu and her children, especially because their father is no longer in their lives.   While we mostly see the hateful Baby Kochamma that Arundhati Roy presents, we learn in chapter one that Baby Kochamma was once in love with Father Mulligan.  She would relentlessly pursue him and try to catch his attention in ways not imaginable, by washing a peasant boy in public for hours to show her caring side and vowing to become a nun to please him.  However, she is forbidden to be with him because of the love laws.  After going to university and losing her love, she completely lacks drive in life and becomes super bitter and flat out rude.  I am not a fan of Baby Kochamma, but after Roy reveals her love for Father Mulligan, I have a tiny bit of sympathy for the lonely, broken hearted (or heartless, really) Baby Kochamma.  

I’m curious to see how Baby Kochamma’s maliciousness and manipulation skills shape the rest of the story...

Relating to Bakha?

In class this week, we discussed the relatability of Bakha as a main character.  Because Mulk Raj Anand describes him as superior in ability and looks to the other untouchable males, some found him a bit more relatable.  I, however, could never put myself in his shoes not only because of the manual labor he has to do, but also because of his lack of voice and power he has in his community.  In a community like Severn, kids are able to speak up and stand up for what they believe.  In the community in which Bakha lives, he is at fault for everyone’s problems and basically serves others as a slave.  I could not even imagine sweeping a public latrine, let alone being paid nothing for it!  I almost think it is selfish to try to compare oneself to Bakha.  Being treated as less than human is something I have never and will never experience.  On the contrary, I do think that maybe someone could compare one’s feelings of suppression or lack of representation and voice to that of Bakha.  But, for someone in our community to compare his/her life to Bakha’s life would be foolish because of the extent of Bakha’s plight as an Untouchable and the daily recurrence of alienation and torture he faces in his society.

AP Essay Prompt

Authors often use a character who is ostracized from a society or community because of his/her gender, race, or social class to highlight the ideals and principles of that society/community.  Choose a novel in which this type of character exists and show how that character’s isolation exposes his/her society’s beliefs and values.  Avoid plot summary.