Studying the Agony, Turmoil and Implications of Intergenerational Trauma in Children in The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy’s, The God of Small Things explores the multifaceted nature of trauma and its ramifications on various characters in the novel. This paper studies the multiple aspects of trauma endured by the characters especially Rahel and Estha, and how their psychology is affected by the ways in which their parents, family and society treats them. It will also highlight the fact that how the memories of strained parental relationships, patriarchal dominance and class difference reverberate in their mind and shape their identities. The narrative techniques used by Roy in the novel, such as fragmented storytelling and non-linear narrative structure, further exemplify the redolent nature of trauma. Through a detailed reading of the text and its critical exploration, this paper will examine how The God of Small Things is basically a text which deals with psychological trauma that gets transferred from the society, family, and parents to their children, through their behaviour and eventually shapes their identities in the long run. Ultimately, the novel manifests as a powerful testament to the complexities of memory, healing, and resilience in children in the face of profound suffering.