A Study on Delineation of Subaltern and Post Colonial Feminism in Arundathi Roys the God of Small Things and Kiran Desais in Heritance of Loss

Abstract

The God of Small Things and The Inheritance of Loss are post-colonial novels that deal with the theme of subalternity. The objective of the study is to assess the subaltern speech and survival techniques devised by the subaltern characters in the novel. The thesis reveals a variety of subalterns who develop ingenious techniques to resist the domination of the aggressor. They are forced to resort to crude strategies to make the indifferent powerful classes to take note. Social laws are devised by the dominant sections for perpetuating their supremacy.When subalterns fail to make a mark with their normal communication systems, they employ destructive lingua. This survival technique is employed both at micro and macro levels. First world people and dominant sections in third world countries are warned to heed to the clear warning given by subalterns. Rahel and Estha subvert established ethical rules concerning physical love. Gyan and disgruntled internal immigrants have recourse to terrorism to shock the mainstreampeople to listen to their woes. The post-colonial societies have in fact forced the subalterns to speak in a language that will wake up the dominant classes from theirindifferent stupor. Incest and terrorism are the ultimate weapons used in The Godof Small Things and The Inheritance of Loss respectively to force the upper classesto look at the concerns of the weaker sections with more compassion. The study proves conclusively that the subalterns can express themselves effectively through all possible methods. The study brings out the latent suggestion made by both the novelists that the only hope for humans lie in retrieving lost connectedness among people and with nature.