World Literature Essays

World Literature Essays World Literature Essay World Literature Essay Essay Topic: Lolita The God Of Small Things The following article gives a critical analysis in terms of hybridity, immigration and exile of three novels, â€Å"The God of Small Things†, â€Å"Reading Lolita in Tehran† and â€Å"Nervous conditions†. This article gives a brief review and background of all the novels plus a detailed description on how all books dealt with the issues of Hybridity, how it happens and its effects, immigration, its reasons and consequences and exile, the motive behind it and purpose. Comparison of all three novels with respect to the following three points is analyzed here. All the books are written by novelists from countries with one or other political or social dilemmas running their countries, and these novels gives us a pretty good picture of how the people of these countries get affected by this situation. One very obviously similar thing about all these novels is the writer of these stories have all had an experience or a brief run in with many issu es that are portrayed through characters in the novel. All are very interesting and different from conventional stories, bringing to us alive the desperation and despair that people from the countries face. The God of Small Things â€Å"The God of Small things† is an exceptional novel by Arundhati Roy which is telling its readers a story about a highly damaged family from India,  leading them to familiarize with the unhappiness of the characters by personal and intimate cross-questioning. The novel gives us the life story, beginning with the childhood of fraternal twins Rahel and Estha from Kerala, who become fatalities of negative circumstances entering their lives from the very early age. This novel starts off by showing a very strong bond between fraternal twins, Rahel and Estha who have an emotional connection which is more solid than that of most siblings. The music fades and the chorus speaks: Well, here we are. It is Tuesday the Thirteenth of June, one year after the death of her sister Antigone, Ismene sits as Queen. Her hands are trembling as the vacillation of marrying Kerberos lies in the back of her mind. Her engagement to Kerberos has already caused tension among the people of Thebes; riots have been ubiquitous from the marketplace to the royal embassy. Creon died from the same animosity Thebes was in after Antigones death and left the town in discord. Ismene evokes the image of angry Theban peasants grabbing Creon and hanging him in the square, for all to see. She shivers and frowns. All to see except Oedipus and Antigone, who should have seen it. Ismene opens the book in front of her and begins reading the first stanza: Nobody likes the man who brings bad news. Suddenly, Kerberos opens the door with a wild smile. He motions Ismene to come to him. Ismene walks slowly toward him, her dress quivering. The cold wintry wind blew the pages of Ismenes book to a page with faded words. However, one line remains bold: How dreadful it is when the right judge judges wrong! The chorus exits. KERBEROS: Ismene, darling, it is late. You should go get some sleep. The moon is even lamenting from your discontent. What is bothering you? ISMENE [looking up with sorrow]: I just cant stop thinking about the riots that have been going on. The guards have already captured hundreds of civilians already for mutiny and insurrection. I do not know why my people do not trust you. KERBEROS: The guards are fine now, arent they? Your people are just probably scared of a new throne. ISMENE: Or are they? What about those mysterious killings just after you proposed to me, Kerberos? So far, ten scribes, twenty guards, and two cooks have been poisoned. Im beginning to doubt if this marriage is going to work. We love each other, right? KERBEROS [with slight hesitation]: There is no question how much you mean to me, Ismene. You are the wind beneath my wings, my guiding light, my everything. Kerberos holds Ismene tightly, his lips close to hers. Ismene gently touches Kerbeross face, but Kerberos backs away. KERBEROS [smiles]: You need your rest. Until tomorrow, my love. ISMENE [sheepishly]: Until tomorrow. The stage closes. In the dark dungeon of Thebes lies a man with a hooded cape and Kerberos. The marble sidewalks laid in oblivion to the iniquity of the night. MAN [annoyingly]: What now, Kerberos? KERBEROS: I need ten more. Ill give you one hundred pounds and you must swear to keep your mouth shut. The mans eyes glistened as he hands Kerberos bottles of a deep black potion in exchange of shiny, golden coins. MAN: Next time, the price will be doubled. The stage lights to reveal Ismenes bedchambers. A small candle flickers in the distance. A huge hourglass piece is centered on a wooden desk. Ismene slowly steps to the candle lights and watch it go dim. Suddenly, a servant knocks on her door urgently SERVANT [knocking]: Miss, I have something important to tell you. ISMENE [opens the door reluctantly]: Does it have to wait until the sun has fallen and the stars have gone to sleep? SERVANT: It is urgent. My mum has told me to shut my mouth, but you should deserve to know. ISMENE: What is so imperative that you have waited the wanton of hours to tell me? SERVANT [quietly]: Poison was found hidden beneath Kerbeross drawer while my mum was cleaning his room. I think he might be dangerous.. ISMENE: Dont be ridiculous. Although Kerberos looks healthy, hes a very sick man. Those are probably the remedies for his ailing conditions. SERVANT [confidently]: I assure you that ISMENE [interrupts]: Everything will just be fine. I have lots on my mind. Now if you will just excuse me. SERVANT [disappointedly mumbles]: Ill let you be. Stage closes. Random voices are heard from within the chorus, now acting as a crowd before the Queens wedding. Voice 1: Where is she? Shes late by forty minutes! Voice 2: Shell be here. Ismene is always late. Voice 3: Maybe she finally found her conscience and disowned that brat. They turn to see Kerberos approaching from stage left in regal garb. Voice 3 [laughs]: Look it him, he looks like hes drowned with tarred feathers. Voice 4: That imbecile should deserve to go to starvation and die. Voice 2: I hope Ismene comes soon. This wedding is starting to look desolate. KERBEROS[turning to the voices]: Shut up. I do not have time for your ti te-i -ti te nonsense. Your disrespect is impervious. It is not your wedding day. Voice 5 [mumbling]: Nor is it yours. Silence stumbled upon the voices as Ismene opens the white doors. Her face looks paler than the depths of her pallid, white dress. However, her eyes shimmered as she say Kerberos. Ismene walks down the aisle as eyes of despondency lay hidden in the audiences eyes. Suddenly, she falls dramatically down, her legs feebly trying to get up. Kerberos rushes to her side. KERBEROS [cautious]: Are you alright Ismene? ISMENE [weakly]: I feel so. enervated. Voice 1: Maybe we should postpone the wedding. Our highness looks too anemic. Voice 2 [agreeing]: Lets put her to rest KERBEROS [flustered]: Silence! Ismene needs to marry me today. It is my her special day! ISMENE [faintly]: Kerberos.. Ismene grabs Kerberos hand as she pulls herself up and continues to walk down the aisle. The intonation of disapproval surrounded the church. After they exchanged vows, Ismene suddenly falls down on the white marble floor while Kerberos disappears into the distance. Kerberos menacingly grins as he holds a bottle of black potion beneath his fingertips.