10-6-2008 The God of Small Things

The power of language versus the language of power is the binary that seems to dominate The God of Small Things. Roy uses English poetically, beautifully, expertly, yet still finds ways to usurp its power and prestige in the Indian conscience. On page 169, Velutha teases Rahel, "That's only in English! ... In Malayalam my teacher said that 'Smiling means it wasn't me.'" This is a minor scene between an Untouchable and a semi-Touchable little girl as the adoring family fawns over Sophie Mol, but it highlights how English is the language of power in this culture. Ironically, Roy uses this power language to point out that language can create its own power when used in the hands of one adept enough to wield it to teach against the dominant culture. Velutha is presented as the brilliant native held back by his birth from achieving the rags-to-riches success that seems an integral part of the American Dream. He has more cunning awareness than Chacko, though Chacko is able to recite the grand literature of Western culture to make his points. Chacko is the voice of the language of power--relying on his marriage to an English woman to validate his existence despite his own impressive education. Velutha realizes the power of language and uses English's braggadocio to undermine its exalted position. While neither male character is well-developed, they do serve to illustrate this binary quite well.