Saturday, May 2, 2009

God Of Small Things

Post your Journal Entries here.

You Must Include...

* the quote with page number
* your response


You might also consider...
-responding to what others have written
-adding quotations that connect to other quotations
-connecting the passages directly to the globalization project

27 comments:

Unknown said...

"If only he hadn't been a Paravan, he might have become an engineer." (72)

This quotation is talking about Velutha, a boy who had been an untouchable until his family converted to christianity. What really strikes me here is how unchanged the society is after its encounter with the western idea of christianity. Often, the point is made that the spreading of western ideas has a deep and unchangable effect on the places they touch. But from the story of velutha, no such point is made and its almost tragic. Here is this untouchable familywho for a moment, get the chance to break free of their existance as outcasts. But christianity is a bust, even when the other people in the town are christian too. It doesn't matter if they've converted, they'll always be pariahs. It is truly terrible because finally, here's one good thing western society can offer to others and the indian castes are too used to being there to nudge. Though it can be detrimental to lose culture, a society must grow for the needs of the people. It just makes the whole thing seem so terribly hopeless.

LibbyC said...

" 'They have horns and scaly skins,' Chako said sarcastically. 'And I've heard that their babies hatch from eggs.' "(82)

So far, Chacko is one of the most interesting characters in The God of Small Things. The most interesting thing about him is how is sometimes contradicts himself when it comes to what he calls "Anglophilia." Chacko scolds his family for wanting to see The Sound of Music because it is an "extended exercise of Anglophilia,"(54), yet at the same time he himself is a well-educated man who studied at Oxford. He shows more ways of anglophilia than any of his relatives. He almost is bragging while he recites passages from famous works of literature. In this quote above, he is making fun of Baby Kochamma's judgements and connotation of the Hindu pilgrims. When he does this, he is exercising his superiority he feels. He feels this superiority because he was educated in England and has an attitude of a arrogant westerner. As a westerner, this line was quite funny and clever on Chacko's part and shows how westernized he is himself. Though Chacko contradicts himself in this way, he is also a great part of Rahel and Estha's family. He makes the members of the family check themselves when they make judgements too soon and help expose Rahel and Estha to things they are interested in. Rahel and Estha love Chacko and admire him deeply. Chacko does not realize the affect he has on them and when he says they are the millstones on his neck they are very sad and disappointed. In this way, Chacko is somewhat of a harsh character. Overall, Chacko is a character that is so far aware of the negative affects of the West on his country, but cannot help but contribute to it.

Unknown said...

“A yellow hoarding said BE INDIAN, BUY INDIAN in red.”

This quote stood out to me because it is a clear example of the way in which many Indians feel about western influence and western ideas as well as products. It is clear from this quote that many resist this western influence. This could be for many reasons, including that Indian businesses’ income and popularity decreases as that of western products and companies increases. This simple observation by Rahel gives the reader an insight into what one view of western influence in India is. This quote also seemed a bit ironic based on the context that it is in. This quote follows directly after Rahel’s description of The Sound of Music. This holds a bit of irony because The Sound of Music is a western film. This western film clearly has had an impact on Rahel, because she knows the details of the movie. From this it is clear that western media is one prominent form of globalization in India. While this is true, the way in which Rahel follows her description of the film with this quote above shows that while some are being sucked into these western ideas through forms of media, others are being harmed by this influence and feel that it should be resisted. This quote along with these contrasting views give the reader some perspective of what globalization and western influence in India is like.

Sarah W. said...

"Chacko told the twins that, though he hated to admit it, they were all Anglophiles...Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away." (51)

Chacko 'read' at Oxford, and therefore, one would think that he would be an enthusiastic supporter of Western ideas. This quotation, however, shows that he is, in fact, not. He "hated" to admit how many people actually have the idea in their mind that they like English. This allows the reader to understand how, even if he is a Marxist, he still believes in the separation of Western ideas (such as English) and Indian values, which not many, if any, Indians at this time still hold true to, implied by the text. This overwhelming sense of liking English has caused everyone to forget their history, and have no means of getting it back because of their dependence on Western culture, language, etc, which to Chacko, is a real shame.

Unknown said...

my entry was on page 57 - I forgot to write the page number.

Sam Kropp said...

“ Baby Kochamma tried to be jolly. She started a song. ‘There’s a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall and the bells in the steeple too. And up in the nurs’ry an absurd little bird is popping out to say--.” (83)

This quotation is from Baby Kochamma when she is trying to cheer up Estha and Rahel while they are the train and are bored. When reading this passage I was surprised in the song choice of Baby Kochamma. The fact that she chose a song from an America movie to sing to the kids shows that she is very much influenced by outside cultures. Out of all the songs she could’ve chosen she chose an American one proving that Estha and Rahel must be even more influenced by other nations and cultures than Baby Kochamma. Since they are growing up listing to American music and watching American movies they will become less part of their native culture. Their generation will turn into people who are know more about the rest of the world and less about their own culture. This could be a potential harm to the society because eventually less and less people will be connected to their own culture and more to the rest of the world because of this.

Unknown said...

“When the British came to Malabar, a number of Paravans...converted to Christianity…They were Christians, and therefore casteless. It was a little like having to sweep away your footprints without a broom. Or worse, not being allowed to leave footprints at all.” (71)

This passage of the story gives a true and detailed explanation of one of the important ways in which western nations had an influence on Christianity. As explained from this quotation, the spread of Christianity to India brought new hope to the Untouchables. Converting to Christianity, they believed, allowed them to escape the plague of their lives as Untouchables. This passage shows that after many converted, the Untouchables were given no place in the government or the society. They were made casteless, and could no longer participate in the community. Because of this many have remained Untouchables to remain a part of society, like Velutha. Although western culture and ideas have spread to India, those who remain in the caste system as Untouchables are still treated as though no change has occurred. Therefore little change in the society seems to be noticed. Velutha is one example of this.

LibbyC said...

"On the next bed, his niece and nephew slept with their arms around each other ... They dreamed of their river... It was warm, the water. Graygreen. Like rippled silk." (116)

This passage finishes a rather disturbing chapter for the twins, but especially Estha. It is an optimistic way to end the chapter as the scene of the river is poetically described. It also makes perfect sense. As the twins, Ammu, Baby Kochamma and Chako travel to go see The Sound of Music, they are surrounded by western, American symbols and images. Shortly after Estha is molested, the disturbed Orangedrink Lemondrink man offers Ammu "Coca-colaFanta"(104), a Western product. I think all of these Western, modern signs and appearances-including the fact that the were all seeing The Sound of Music-during the upsetting parts like Estha's molestation, the communist riot and Ammu telling Rahel that she loves her a little less is expressing the negative effects of globalization and western influence. Similarly, natural, traditional, home-like images like the river give comfort and optimism back into Rahel and Estha's lives as the dream in each others' arms. This portrays the positive effects that natural, traditional ideas and images have on Estha and Rahel, for that is what they dream of after a day of horrible instances.

LibbyC said...

"So they went ahead and plugged their smelly paradise-God's Own Country they called it in their brochures-because they knew, those clever Hotel People, that smelliness, like other peoples' poverty, was merely a matter of getting used to."(120)

This quote is unfortunately very true. Western people are used to other peoples' problems and poverty even though they never witness it. In this passage, they might smell it or get a glimpse, but travel agencies want Westerners to steer away from the horrific truth. Westerners may think they understand poverty, but this quote implies that they never will. Since Westerners claim to understand poverty, they also don't bother to help or stop it. The believe that it will always be there, so why even try. In this part of the book, it is showing that it is not for this Hotel and resort to be set up because the people who will stay there will never understand the country and do not truly care for it's people. It is a horrible thing to 'get used' to poverty because as soon as one sees it, one should feel compelled to help. And unfortunately, poverty doesn't just fade away like a bad smell.

Unknown said...

“And there they were, the Foreign Returnees, in wash ‘n’ wear suits and rainbow sunglasses. With an end to grinding poverty in their Aristocrat suitcases…Puff sleeves and lipstick…With keys to count, and cupboards to lock. With love and lick of shame that their families who had come to meet them were so…gawkish.” (134)

The pessimistic tone of this quotation gives one view and insight on the way in which globalization affects India. As Indians begin to travel around the world, the return home with not only new material items, but also shame in their own families and their own country. This quote clearly expresses this as a negative affect of the spread of globalization. Although the travelers claim that through their journeys they have discovered ways to end poverty, this is not all that they hold on to after their travels. Their “wash ‘n’ wear” suits seem to give the implication that Indian culture is disintegrating as they replace this with new material things. “Puff sleeves and lipstick” have replaced the culture that had once been so important to these returnees. Now they feel they must protect these new material goods that have become so important to them by locking them in cupboards. Although they feel happy to return to their families, they also realize their newfound shame that they have in their family and their country on returning home. After being exposed to the western world, their families now seem “gawkish” and their countries facilities, such as the airport, seem shabby. According to this quotation globalization has a negative affect on India: the loss of culture and shame in one’s own home and family.

Sam Kropp said...

"She somehow felt humiliated by this public revolt in her area of jurisdiction. She had wanted a smooth performance. A prize for her children in the Indo-British Behavior Competition" (139)

This quotation is from Ammu’s point of view. She is talking about Estha and that he did not say a proper hello to Margaret Kochamma when she arrives. Ammu is frustrated because not only did her son not obey her he was also wasn’t polite and that really embarrassed her. This negative feelings stem from a message she getting from the British, to always be proper and polite. This message is an effect of globalization, as the British putt their influence on the people of India their culture changed. The culture of India is has some aspects of British culture because of globalization. So Ammu is receiving this message and the feeling very embarrassed when her kids do not act the way the “should be” acting. Ammu’s encounter with this western idea is that she wants to be like the new Indian-British culture and is accepting of this ways, while her children could care less. Estha is only a child here so he does not really care about what other think of him or how he acts in public. The two different reactions in this scene show that adults and children have different opinion relating to the British influence.

Unknown said...

“Littleangels were beach-colored and wore bell-bottoms.
Littledemons were mudbrown in Airport-Fairy frocks with forehead bumps that might turn into horns.” (170)

From this quotation, Rahel’s perspective on western influence is shown in a more hidden, childish way. It is clear that she is not trying to pinpoint her view on westerners and western ways, but through the way that she compares herself to her British cousin, she does this. When she compares herself to Sophie Mol, one of her reasons that her cousin is an angel while she is a demon is because Sophie Mol is “beach-colored” while Rahel is “mudbrown”. She immediately uses these differences to understand why Sophie Mol is “loved from the beginning” while Rahel is “loved a little less”. Rahel believes that because her cousin is from England, people love her more than her, including her own mother. These views coming from a child’s perspective are most likely influenced by the adults in her life. Because western influence is so prominent, as the adult role models in her life turn the arrival of her western family members into an extravaganza, Rahel suddenly feels left out, forgotten, and loved less by her family. Because the adults are making this arrival seem so celebrated, it has a negative affect on Rahel in that it sends her the message that she is not as important or loved as her western cousin.

Unknown said...

"At a Kottayam police station, a shaking Baby Kotchamma... told the inspector... A Paravan. A few days ago he tried to, to... to force himself on her niece." (245)

What I think is so interesting (and in some ways a little disturbing) about this passage is the way it is similar to American culture. Let me explain- Baby Kochamma is (falsely) reporting that her niece was sexually assulted by a person of lower standing in the society when really it wasn't molestation at all because Ammu fully and most definitely gave her consent. This is not unlike situations that have occurred in America. To take another litterary example, in to kill a mocking bird by lee harper (?) there is a trial over the rape of a white girl by a black man when really the girl had seduced the man. I'm not saying that India was a perfect place before western influence, but the similarity is clearly there. This is emboldened by the fact that it was baby kochamma specifically who told this lie. She (with the exception of chako and of course margaret and sophie mol) is the most connected with the western world- note the way she sang the song from the sound of music to cheer up esta and how excited she was to install cable. It really seems like just another way american culture has seeped into the rest of the world.

Unknown said...

"Ammu said, 'Oh the whole world goes to see the Sound of Music." (54)

This quotation clearly shows the way in which Western culture has infiltrated Indian society. movies were first inrtoduced in the west, the sound of music was introduced in the west, the sound of music is loved in the west, so therefore the whole world loves the sound of music...?! The interesting thing, however, is that Ammu is the one who brings this up. She, of all people, is very critical of the fact that Chacko went to oxford, a british school and did british things. So it might lead someone to believe that she is generally critical of things that are british or western. Yet, she defends the sound of music, linking herself to something western without even thinking about it.

Unknown said...

"She wouldn't have believed that television existed... Kochu Maria hardly believed anything that anybody said." (162)

Well thank the god of small things for kochu maria. she's a welcome contrast to the other characters. Even though she's a small part, Kochu Maria is extremely important mostly for the reasons that her views upon outside society are different from the others. She is of slightly lower standing in society and maybe because of this she has a more critical eye on the world. She's used to believing herself, the things that she knows as opposed to some nonsense brought in by an outside society. She shows that not "all indians" have the same thoughts about the west. Though this may be obvious to us without a mention of it in the book, it gives another layer of reality to a book that seems a bit surreal at points.

Sarah W. said...

"That's what careless words do. They make people love you a little less." (107)

This is what Ammu tells Rahel after she blurts out for Ammu to marry the Orangedrink Lemondrink man. Rahel is haunted by this comment for the rest of the book; every so often, in italics, these words are restated, describing the feelings of Rahel of her relationship with her mother at the particular time. Ammu doesn't seem to realize how much her children care about her and how influenced they are by her words, which is a sort of foreshadow for Ammu's yelling that ultimately leads to Sophie Mol's death. Rahel values her mothers feelings and is deeply affecting by her words, as is her twin. What I do not understand is why Rahel blurts this out in the first place; it my be because she is upset at having to leave "The Sound Of Music" early. I also don't fully understand Ammu's reaction; I think she is being a little too harsh on her child.

Sarah W. said...

"'Ariel in The Tempest?' Sophie Mol said she didn't." (138)

Baby Kochamma is asking Sophie Mol about a Shakespeare play, which Sophie has never heard of. I think this shows a wonderful insight into both Baby Kochoma and to Sophie Mol. Baby Kochoma loves all things western, it seems, and wishes to be though as equal to them. She is trying to impress the people of the Western world with her knowledge of their culture and with what she thinks is 'common knowledge' there. Sophie Mol, on the other hand, is just like any other child. She talks out of hand, she misbehaves; nothing is different or 'special' about her that makes her separate from Rahel or Estha. This is an interesting concept that is only briefly dwelled on in the novel: even though there is so much hype over Sophie Mol and her mother, nothing, other than their skin color sets them apart from anyone in Ayemenem.

Sarah W. said...

"She turned to say it once again: 'Naaley.' Tomorrow." (321)

I think this is such a beautiful ending to the book. Ammu and Velutha love each other; that much is clear. They are somewhat minor characters who end up being the characters that cause everything. But, they don't want things to stay the same. They want to be at this place alone, together, and be away from the outside world telling them they can't be together. This is very interesting: they both want change and shrink away from it. They want to be able to be with each other, have a life together, and therefore want their social statuses to disappear. But they also don't want the caste system to get in the middle of their love. They want things to change so that things can stay the same; they want to be able to be together without having to hide.

Unknown said...

“Oho!...You are here! So still you are interested in your Indian culture? Goodgood. Very good.” (225)

Comrade K. N. M. Pillai says this to Rahel and Estha after attending a storytelling. From this quotation, we see another view on the changing culture and western influence. Many of the adults who grew up with the old Indian cultures and ways of life are resistant to the change that modern western ideas are bringing to India. Many want the children and the future generations to hold on to their culture, and not just adopt western ways while leaving their own family’s culture behind. Comrade Pillai, like the Kathakali Man, prefer to hold on to their Indian culture. Because of the strong impact that western ways have on the younger generations, instead of his children following in his footsteps, the Kathakali Man “watched them grow up to become clerks and bus conductors.” (219) His children grow up wanting to be “everything that he is not.” This is mainly because of the new western ideas being thrust upon them. Comrade Pillai is content to see that some members of the younger generation still appreciate their culture by attending the Kathakali Man’s storytelling.

Sam Kropp said...

“Kochu Maria hadn’t yet made her acquaintance with the television addict waiting inside her…She hadn’t yet seen a television set. She wouldn’t have believed a television existed.” (162)

This description about Kochu Maria show how little Kochu Maria has been affected by Globalization and also the fact that she chooses not to accepted what is going on around her. The quotation gives the reader two sides to her opinion on Globalization. The first side is shown when its described Kochu Maria as “the television addict waiting inside”. Therefore although Kochu Maria tries to resist what is happening around her, she still might end up changing her opinion and could be potentially sucked into the movement around her. This quotation also shows Kochu Maria’s how she isn’t very educated about technology and is also stubborn when it describes that she “wouldn’t have believed a television existed.” Her not believing makes her seem old fashioned and stubborn since she isn’t open to new ideas or movements. This depiction of her also shows how people in her generation would react to globalization and also shows a different opinion compared to other characters in the book. With the addition of her opinion we can see not all people are as accepting of globalization, like she is.

Unknown said...

"'I never want this to happen again.' He said.'Ever.'" (47)

Here really seems to be Chacko's big moment so to speak. It shows Chacko's true values as opposed to his outward personality. From most of the book, Chacko comes off as a loudmouth hypocrite who is all talk and no action and every once in a while has a soft moment when he thinks of Margaret. But here, he stands up to his violent father (a feat on many levels)and protects his mother. The reader sees for the first time that Chacko truly cares for his family and is willing to protect and look out for them. It adds a complex layer to his character that readers don't get to see until later on in the novel.

Unknown said...

"She turned to say it once again: 'Naaley.'
Tomorrow." (321)

I found this ending an incredibly powerful one. "tomorrow" is filled with such hope and saddness for both ammu and velutha. "Things Can Change in a Day," is a line spoken over and over again within the novel and often it had a feeling of a hanging forebodingness, the cause of nothing good. But "things can change in a day" is given a new light with the ending phrase of tomorrow between two forbidden lovers. Tomorrow things will change so they can be together. Change is not always an inevitable foreboding. Change allows two people like Ammu and Velutha to keep hoping for Tomorrow.

Unknown said...

“They knew things could change in a day. They were right about that.” (321)

This line in the ending of the book really stood out to me. This line proves the love that Ammu and Velutha have for each other, and it expresses the extent to which they will go for each other. They fully understand the dangers and the price that they will have to pay, as it is said multiple times throughout the ending of the book. Although it is clear that they want change to come in the sense that their social statuses are diminished, they also hope day and after day for things to stay the same. This is interesting to me. They treat their affair as something fragile that can be changed for the worse in an instant. But they also pray that change comes in the society so that they can freely be together. In order to protect and preserve their relationship, the lovers want both change and for things to stay the same.

LibbyC said...

"Anybody could see that Chackp was a proud and happy man to have a wife like Margaret. White."(136)

It is very clear that even though Chacko tries to regulate western influence, he is very double sided. In the end, he loves the idea that his wife is white not because of her appearance but because of the ideas and stereotypes that go along with being white. Rahel especially feels this. She believes that not only does Chacko love Sophie Mol and Margaret more than her, but also that Ammu loves them more as well. When Sophie Mol arrives, the whole family tries to conform to them. Baby Kochamma tries to show off by referring to "The Tempest" and begins speaking in an English accent. Rahel is the truest to her own country because she is very worried that her mother might love Sophie Mol more than her (and rightly so) and also tries to escape the chaos of her life by imagining the natural rivers and life around her home in Malayalam. Because of this, I feel Rahel is the most loyal to her own country.

LibbyC said...

" 'Oh, all the time!' Ammu said, and it came out a little louder than the sarcastic mumble that she had intended. 'That's how we make babies.' "

This quotation made me laugh and instantly caught my attention. Ammu is somewhat of a bitter pessimistic person at times. She forgets her manners that she enforces a little too strictly on her children and lets comments like these slip. This following interaction between Chacko and Ammu reflects the struggle between those who have stayed traditionally India and those who have been penetrated by Western society. Ammu is so frustrated and fed up with the way her family has been treated at the Sophie Mol welcoming and cannot contain her feelings any longer. This frustration also comes from shame. Her children are not polite enough when they meet Sophie Mol. Under it all, Ammu is ashamed that Sophie Mol seems like a more sophisticated girl than her children are. This is another way that Western influence negatively affects Ammu and her children's life. Rahel and Estha feel this shame from their mother and the adults in their lives. That is why they feel comfortable around Velutha who has (so far) been a man who can take them and their mother out of the world that is surrounded from Western pressures.

Sam Kropp said...

“She looked critically at her round, heavy behind. Not big in itself. No big per se (as Chako-of-Oxofrd would no doubt have put it.)” (212)

This quotation is Ammu’s description of herself, as she looks in her bathroom minor and describes her appearance. She is describing herself in a not very kind way and critically saying what she looks like. When she uses a negative connotation in her description she is comparing herself to the perfect person and not embracing her Indian characteristics. By her not embracing her Indian characteristics she is given into the cultural globalization that is happening in India at this time. The British are putting different standards into the minds of the Indian’s by introducing their own culture which has different views on how society should look. Another way in which globalization is inflicted in the quotation is when Ammu says “(as Chako-of–Oxford would not doubt have putt it)” Here Ammu is giving Chako a name that isn’t his and relates to the British education. By doing this she is making him seem more a part of the British culture and education than the Indian Culture.

LibbyC said...

"She hadn’t yet seen a television set. She wouldn’t have believed a television existed.”(162)

Kochu Maria is someone very affected by Western culture not in the intellectual ways like Chacko but from the West's media. She becomes a terrible TV addict, obsessed with watching wrestling with Baby Kochamma. This is very sad, especially because so soon before she was not addicted. She got angry with Estha when he referenced Western things and she couldn't speak English herself. This shows that the way culture creeps in can be very swift and dangerous. One could not even know the language and get hooked. Kochu Maria has a sad life because of her size and the way she must follow orders, so this culture is somewhat of a good thing for her because it allows her to escape, but if she could have found an alternative, her life would have been much better off.