Examples Of Marxism In The God Of Small Things

Submitted By Jeff-Shelton
Words: 1450
Pages: 6
Open Document
Jeffrey Shelton
C LIT 300
12/5/02

Paper #3 - The God of Small Things Each reader interprets and analyzes a literary work based upon personal values and an association to a specific critical approach. I personally associate myself closely to Marxist criticism but also place importance on the function of individual words in a literary text. The incorporation of the caste system and love laws within The God of Small Thing and incestuous and murderous action of Oedipus are easily critiqued by Marxist criticism as they reflect social and cultural stress.
I find myself close to the Marxist school of criticism in relation to my personal value system and the importance I place on social forces within a literary text. As stated by Marxist scholar Michael D. Bristol, “Marxism retains its values as a type of social and cultural criticism that focus on social conflict, social creativity, and the struggle for positive change” (Wofford 349). I however exclude social creativity and struggle for positive change from my analysis, as it does not, in my opinion, consistently work within every piece of literary text. I hold social and cultural criticism as highly important because the actions and characteristics of the main protagonists are deeply influenced by the social construct of their surroundings. The practical method of analyzing the repetition of words within the text is also an important facet of my personal mode of critique. The repetition of individual words is important because it draws attention to areas relating to Marxist criticism and the elements of social and cultural tension. The historical and cultural nature of the caste system plays a large role in The God of Small Things. Chacko discusses with Comrade K.N.M. Pillai the untouchable caste level of Velutha and states, “It is a conditioning they have from birth. This I myself have told them is wrong. But frankly speaking, comrade, Change is one thing. Acceptance is another” (264). This statement reflects on a broad scale the mentality of society and their apprehension to give rights and liberties to the paravans. It is also stated in the text that “Paravans were expected to crawl backwards with a broom, sweeping away their footprints so that Brahmins or Syrian Christians would not defile themselves by accidentally stepping into a Paravan’s footprint” (71). The caste system is a cultural attribute of India and although it can be constructed as outrageous and excessive in relation to the ideals of western culture, it is commonplace in the structural make up of Indian society. Velutha’s caste level plays into the social conflict of the text as he provides Chako’s workers means to complain about their working situation. The workers refuse to work with a paravan who although is of low class holds monumental importance in the function and operation of the Paradise Pickles and Preserves factory. This conflict also functions on another social level as the communist party becomes involved in the workers strife and instigates the closure of the factory. This imposition of political influence is commonplace within the text and relates the fact that India is shaped by exterior forces, both from the west and European nations.
The love laws found within Indian culture is also a component to the social tension within the text. Rahel states that the Ipe family’s problems “really began in the days when the Love Laws were made. The laws that lay down who should be loved and how. And how much” (33). The love laws are connected to the caste system as Ammu, being a touchable is forbidden to love a member of the untouchable caste. If Velutha, Ammu’s lover, was a touchable then his love for Ammu would be condoned, but due to his caste and the culture of India, he places social stress upon the family. By her affair, Ammu placed the family in exile from the touchable class as she “defiled generations of breeding (The Little Blessed One, blessed personally by the Patriarch of
Show More

Related Documents: Examples Of Marxism In The God Of Small Things

Biblical Worldview Research Paper

Worldview Paper Lex A. Whitcomb Liberty University Worldview Paper A person’s worldview is based on their philosophy of life, a framework a person brings to decision-making, or a filter/lens that a person uses to interpret life and the world around them. (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, 59) Every person on this planet, has a worldview of some sort and that world view is shaped by the many different teachers that a person has throughout one’s life. (Christian Worldview Journal, Stonestreet, 2010) In the…

Words 934 - Pages 4

Essay about America’s Religious History

Those two quotes from founding fathers are just a small sampling and prove that our country was founded on the Christian beliefs and practices. One of the most compelling aspects of religion in America is that so many people came for religious freedom. These Christians were unable to worship freely in their home countries. As a result the New England Colonies, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland were conceived as types of plantations of religion. 3 The fact that so many individuals came to America…

Words 1230 - Pages 5

Nt1310 Unit 3

Department Level: Juniors Unit 3: Serving God When It’s Hard Lesson 11: Joseph and His Brothers Lesson Concept: Service When Wronged Instructional Objectives: 1. The student will recite Matthew 5:44 from memory by the following week’s class. 2. The student will participate in the life application questions and discussion. 3. The student will return an answer sheet for the challenge question by the following week. Materials Needed: Bible, Verse reminders to give to students, Verse and song visuals…

Words 2036 - Pages 9

Week 1 Week 5

Give me faith to believe that I am fully equipped to hear you. Quiet me enough to notice your stirring in my depths. Teach me to listen. Wednesday – gift giving ceremony- each student brings in a small lollie or non nut chocolate and gives it to another student as a gift Thursday- Heavenly God
you gifted this world,
and made us stewards of it.
Gave us family from many lands
and ask us to care for them.
Put your word upon our heart,
and ask only that we share it.
But we have thought only of…

Words 749 - Pages 3

Film Analysis: The Fisher King

After watching the movie “The Fisher King” and talking about the 6 parts of an epiphany I have really began to think about my life and what I have been through. The main character Jack has many problems throughout the film. By the end of the movie I have come to the realization that we all go through these 6 parts and they all shape us in different ways. If you walk through the hallways of my school, you will see many different faces. Some see black, some see brown, while others may see white. But…

Words 1203 - Pages 5

Essay about Environmentalism: Global Warming and Earth

Personal Position Paper: Environmentalism Caring for the Earth? Should Christians become Tree-Huggers? Ministry 108 In today’s society, many environmental issues are being casually overlooked by the same people who constantly complain about them. It is an ever increasing problem that will eventually become irreversible if we Christians do not respond to the issue with definite action. The four key elements of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral provide strong evidence that God has called humans…

Words 2090 - Pages 9

The God-Is-Dead Theology Essay

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THE GOD-IS-DEAD THEOLOGY A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO DOCTOR RICHARD ELLIGSON PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF CHURCH MINISTRY BY EL-FATIH J. AJALA (25927535) THEO 510 LUO LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA JULY 21, 2013 Introduction Paul Enns in his book The Moody Handbook of Theology states of theologians who profess this…

Words 3457 - Pages 14

Examples Of Criminals In The Bible

to keep the ark of God from falling during transport. There are also countless examples of mass murders commanded by God including the murder of women, infants and children. The First Account of Murder in the Bible 4 Adam ] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time…

Words 1444 - Pages 6

Final Project Essay

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of the course LEAD 620 LUO Mission, Vision and Strategic Planning Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 Biblical Foundations for Ministry......................................………………3 Simple Church…...……………………………………………………….4 Attractional Church.……….…....………………………………………..6 Organic Church……….…..……………….……………………………..8 Hybrid Church……………………………………………………………10 Strategic Plan…………………………………………………………….…

Words 2645 - Pages 11

A Life Beyond Do What You Love Analysis

now, how many of you can relate to living paycheck to paycheck or even having to be broke because other needs and family come first? In “A Life Beyond ‘Do What You Love’”, Marino effectively argue(s) that for humanity’s sake sometimes we should do things we do not enjoy by persuading the readers with appealing to their emotions, establishing credibility through his work as a counselor, focusing on the argument and the counter arguments as well. Marino discusses the idea ‘Should we or should we not…

Words 923 - Pages 4