The Defiant Faces: Intersectionality in Arundhati Roy’s Resistance Narratives

This study examines the multilayered concept of resistance in Arundhati Roy’s novels The God of Small Things (1997) and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017). By foregrounding the voices of marginalized individuals, Roy critically examines systemic inequalities, caste discrimination, and state violence. While existing literary scholarship acknowledges the victimization and marginalization of subaltern women under traditional gender roles, caste systems, politics, and religion, this research highlights how these women actively resist such injustices. Utilizing theoretical frameworks from Guha, Spivak, Gramsci, and Crenshaw, the paper explores the intersectionality of personal and political resistance. It discusses Roy’s critique of power structures and her advocacy for justice and human dignity. Thus, the study unveils the layers of defiance in Roy’s unique portrayal of varied resistance strategies in her narratives.