The novel The God of Small Things is filled with many examples of the constant struggles families experience in severe and miniscule ways. Divorces, affairs, and the sending away of the children to alternate parents are examples of situations where the dynamic shape of the family is put to the test and at times comes apart and separation is seen throughout the novel. The reader sees the family come together to mourn the loss of Sophie Mol at her funeral. The whole family has experienced a great loss of someone each of them loved. Because of these tragic circumstances, the family is brought closer together and in the long run, their individual relationships with each other are strengthened in the process. The family is tested with the affair between Velutha and Ammu, the relationship between the two twins Rahel and Estha, etc. The struggles and complications in the relationships presented in the book form the backbone of the story and each provide special stories and experiences for each, all effecting each other later on.
The relationship between Rahel and Estha is very special because there are various distinctions between the two. This relationship is possible the most important in the story and sets the foundation for a unified family who rely on each other to come closer as a whole. Rahel and Estha are both very fond of each other and are not worried to come to each other for anything. The story explains how they each feel like they are a part of the other and the possibility that their thoughts are in sync with the other and the feel the same way about everything. The story describes the twins in chapter one stating: “They were two egg twins. Dizygotic as doctors called them. Born from separate but simultaneously fertilized eggs. Estha was older by eighteen minutes.” Again, these characteristics give the impression that their DNA is almost in complete sync with one another. This can bring up questions on how we relate to our siblings and what relationships between family members can really be. The closeness of Rahel and Estha shows the togetherness between family and how important this bond is in a family atmosphere. Referring back to the funeral, they all sit together, as they almost use this time of mourning to come together as a family and to become closer. The relationship between Rahel and Estha is very unique and is something to be praised. Their close relationship is a way to bring the whole family closer, not only with themselves. They both guide the story because through their close relationship, the reader can develop their understanding on how this family is brought together.
Ammu is the mother of Rahel and Estha and has an affair with Velutha. This affairs adds to her character and serves are Ammu’s purpose in the story. Ammu struggles throughout the story trying to create a solidified relationship with her children. She cannot play both roles as mother and father, which is the reason why she sends him off to with his father. In chapter one, Ammu mentions, “Maybe they are right, maybe a boy does need a baba.” We can see this inner struggle she is experiencing. She knows that by sending her son off, she knows that she is separating herself from her son, as well as with Rahel. Ammu’s relationship with Velutha is created because of the fact that Ammu and her husband are never together and this results in stress in the family, and serves as one of the major problems the family has in the story in terms of being unified and becoming a true and comfortable family. This relationship slowly turned into a loving affair rather than family friends. Because of the issues with Ammu and her husband and with the affair as well, the reader can search for and come to an understanding as to how this affair came about and understand who the parents are as people in relation to their own lives and their children. Knowing the story behind the parents helps understand the relationship between Rehel and Estha, as well as Sophie Mol.
Another aspect of family to take into account is the relationship between Margaret Kochamma and Chacko. Their relationship is fairly simple and have a history of being happily married. They have since been separated and their daughter is Sophie Mol, who stays with Margaret Kochamma, as they move away in order to get away from the man Margaret was in a relationship with, whom passed away. This family can be related to families in todays world, whom start out very happy and cheerful, then troubles take place and divorces and separation occurs, and the possibility of remarrying is also a factor afterwards. One this is done, the children are stuck between parents and go back and forth spending time with the individual parents, not being able to experiencing the calming unity of a complete family as they once felt before. Through Margaret Kochamma’s actions, she risks her daughter’s life as they move away. Very soon after the move away, Sophie Mol drowns and passes away. The family separating was the overall cause of her death. This shows the importance of a unified family in this time. Had Chacko and Margaret Kochamma never separated, their daughter would have been safe.
The various types of families presented to the reader in the story and the troubles that they encounter show just how important the presence of family is in our lives. Within these struggles and broken dynamics, these families come together in the long run and become connected in a bigger sense. The story does not revolve along families that do not endure struggles or hardships, however the story follows ones where these hardships act as a booster for the families and strengthen them up as a whole. The relationship presented by Rahel and Estha show the importance of sibling bonds. The affair presented with Ammu and Velutha helps show the importance of having a father, and not letting these issues get in the way of your children and the relationships the children have with each other. The relationship between Chacko and Margaret Kochamma shows the importance of attempting to rebuild lost emotions or feelings for the sake of your children, as shown through Sophie Mol. All of these families and experiences represent a bigger picture that even though these families have negative characteristics to them, it is the small things that truly matter and form the strongest bonds in each of these families.
The relationship between Rahel and Estha is very special because there are various distinctions between the two. This relationship is possible the most important in the story and sets the foundation for a unified family who rely on each other to come closer as a whole. Rahel and Estha are both very fond of each other and are not worried to come to each other for anything. The story explains how they each feel like they are a part of the other and the possibility that their thoughts are in sync with the other and the feel the same way about everything. The story describes the twins in chapter one stating: “They were two egg twins. Dizygotic as doctors called them. Born from separate but simultaneously fertilized eggs. Estha was older by eighteen minutes.” Again, these characteristics give the impression that their DNA is almost in complete sync with one another. This can bring up questions on how we relate to our siblings and what relationships between family members can really be. The closeness of Rahel and Estha shows the togetherness between family and how important this bond is in a family atmosphere. Referring back to the funeral, they all sit together, as they almost use this time of mourning to come together as a family and to become closer. The relationship between Rahel and Estha is very unique and is something to be praised. Their close relationship is a way to bring the whole family closer, not only with themselves. They both guide the story because through their close relationship, the reader can develop their understanding on how this family is brought together.
Ammu is the mother of Rahel and Estha and has an affair with Velutha. This affairs adds to her character and serves are Ammu’s purpose in the story. Ammu struggles throughout the story trying to create a solidified relationship with her children. She cannot play both roles as mother and father, which is the reason why she sends him off to with his father. In chapter one, Ammu mentions, “Maybe they are right, maybe a boy does need a baba.” We can see this inner struggle she is experiencing. She knows that by sending her son off, she knows that she is separating herself from her son, as well as with Rahel. Ammu’s relationship with Velutha is created because of the fact that Ammu and her husband are never together and this results in stress in the family, and serves as one of the major problems the family has in the story in terms of being unified and becoming a true and comfortable family. This relationship slowly turned into a loving affair rather than family friends. Because of the issues with Ammu and her husband and with the affair as well, the reader can search for and come to an understanding as to how this affair came about and understand who the parents are as people in relation to their own lives and their children. Knowing the story behind the parents helps understand the relationship between Rehel and Estha, as well as Sophie Mol.
Another aspect of family to take into account is the relationship between Margaret Kochamma and Chacko. Their relationship is fairly simple and have a history of being happily married. They have since been separated and their daughter is Sophie Mol, who stays with Margaret Kochamma, as they move away in order to get away from the man Margaret was in a relationship with, whom passed away. This family can be related to families in todays world, whom start out very happy and cheerful, then troubles take place and divorces and separation occurs, and the possibility of remarrying is also a factor afterwards. One this is done, the children are stuck between parents and go back and forth spending time with the individual parents, not being able to experiencing the calming unity of a complete family as they once felt before. Through Margaret Kochamma’s actions, she risks her daughter’s life as they move away. Very soon after the move away, Sophie Mol drowns and passes away. The family separating was the overall cause of her death. This shows the importance of a unified family in this time. Had Chacko and Margaret Kochamma never separated, their daughter would have been safe.
The various types of families presented to the reader in the story and the troubles that they encounter show just how important the presence of family is in our lives. Within these struggles and broken dynamics, these families come together in the long run and become connected in a bigger sense. The story does not revolve along families that do not endure struggles or hardships, however the story follows ones where these hardships act as a booster for the families and strengthen them up as a whole. The relationship presented by Rahel and Estha show the importance of sibling bonds. The affair presented with Ammu and Velutha helps show the importance of having a father, and not letting these issues get in the way of your children and the relationships the children have with each other. The relationship between Chacko and Margaret Kochamma shows the importance of attempting to rebuild lost emotions or feelings for the sake of your children, as shown through Sophie Mol. All of these families and experiences represent a bigger picture that even though these families have negative characteristics to them, it is the small things that truly matter and form the strongest bonds in each of these families.