The God of Small Things: Critical Quotes

Section 1: Generally Speaking

A Complex Narrative Structure: As E.M. Forster says: “Yes - oh dear yes - the novel tells a story.” This quote aptly summarizes the complex narrative and timeline of “The God of Small Things”. The story is pieced together by the reader, providing a potent reflection of the nonlinear nature of memory and experience.
Her Unusual Writing Style: Susan Sontag’s words: “Style is the soul of the novel,” resonate strongly when considering the unique prose style employed by Arundhati Roy. The blend of English, Malayalam, and various linguistic experiments reflect the diverse cultural and linguistic landscape of Kerala, whilst also challenging normative language structures.

Exploring the Twins: Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s belief that “Childhood is the sleep of reason,” can be applied in understanding the twins’ innocent yet deep perception of their world, which is gradually shattered by their experiences.
Amma’s Character: Virginia Woolf’s perspective that: “As a woman, I have no country. As a woman my country is the whole world,” provides great insight on Amma’s character. Her desires and aspirations are thwarted because societal expectations and restrictions, highlighting the universally shared struggle of women.

Dictated by Love and Lust: In the words of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “…human beings are not born once and for all on the day their mothers give birth to them, but … life obliges them over and over again to give birth to themselves”. This theme of rebirth and transformation is particularly relevant in understanding the relationships, motivations and actions dictated by love and lust in the novel.
Small Things Matter: Voltaire’s quote: “Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well,” helps to appreciate how the ‘small things’ – emotions, memories, experiences – in the novel can resonate universally, expanding beyond the boundaries of cultural and geographical borders.