The God of Small Things: Characters

Section 1: Main Characters

Estha and Rahel: The protagonists of the novel, twin siblings who share an extraordinarily close bond. Their childhood experiences of love, loss and betrayal cast long shadows over their adult lives. Estha’s character remains silent in his adult years, haunted by past demons. Rahel, having endured a failed marriage, returns to Ayemenem in her adulthood, rekindling her bond with Estha.
Ammu: Estha and Rahel’s mother, she is driven by a quest for independence but is restricted by the society she lives in. Ammu’s affair with Velutha acts as a major catalyst for the tragedies that unfold within the novel.

Section 2: Supporting Characters

Sophie Mol: The half-English cousin of the twins, whose drowning death is a central tragedy of the story. Despite her short life, her character plays a significant role as her death triggers a series of devastating events.
Velutha: The family’s carpenter who belongs to the untouchable Paravan caste. He is a symbol of rebellion against the oppressive caste system. His forbidden love affair with Ammu adds a layer of complexity to the plot and ultimately contributes to his tragic end.
Baby Kochamma: The grandaunt of the twins, her scheming and manipulative traits significantly contributes to the misfortunes of the family. Her vehement adherence to societal norms and caste prejudice portrays the damaging influence of systemic bias.

Section 3: Additional Characters

Chacko: Chacko is the twins’ maternal uncle, a Rhodes Scholar that takes over the family business following the death of his sister and father. Although intellectual, he is shown as an unsuccessful and somewhat comic character.
Margaret Kochamma: Chacko’s ex-wife and Sophie Mol’s mother. She returns to Ayemenem following the death of her second husband, inadvertently acting as another catalyst for the tragic events in the narrative.
Kochu Maria: The family maid who holds a strong loyalty for Baby Kochamma, staying with her till the end.

In studying these characters, understand their motivations, relationships and how their actions, or lack thereof, further propels the overlapping themes of love, betrayal, caste and discrimination that form the crux of the narrative.