Clashes of Ideologies and Authorial Intrusion operating inArundhati Roy’s Novel theGodofSmall Things
Date
2012
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Central Department of English
Abstract
This thesis shows that Arundhati Roy’s novelThe God of Small Things(1997)
mirrors the ideological conflict of various political, social, economic, religious and
cultural forces operating in the postcolonial/independent India. The thesis classifies
these forces into three categories. The postcolonial state, the ruling class, religious
institutions, the media, the main stream political parties and the global culture
comprise the dominant/oppressive group. The mainstream/parliamentarian lefts make
the middle way force. The working class, women, the ‘untouchable’ and the Naxalites
make the oppressed group. I have shown that the novel synthesises the conflicts in the
realm of ideologies because the characters are motivated by ideologies rather than by
their socio-economic position they belong to. I have shown that the dominant and the
unconscious oppressed class share false consciousness as their ideology, whereas the
conscious oppressed groups are guided by the Maoist/radical thought which I have
identified as the emergent ideology. I have associated the parliamentarian lefts with
enlightened false consciousness. I have also shown that there is no one to one
correspondence between the class and one’s ideology.
The thesis shows that Roy’s radical views articulated in her non-fictional
writings such asThe Algebra of Infinite Justice, An Ordinary Person’s Guide to
Empire, The Shape of the BeastandListening to Grasshoppershave found fictional
rendering in her novel and determined its ideology.The thesis is an attempt to show
that, despite her avowed disagreement with the Naxalitemovement, Roy’s radical
views and the Maoism converge inThe God of Small Thingsas the emergent
ideology.
Description
Keywords
Postcolonial, Social, Political