The God of Small Things

In class, we talked about sub-altern, or a subordinate position. Subordinate positions are important and powerful issues all throughout this text. First off, Velutha is an Untouchable. He is subordinate to all of society, including government and religion (caste system). He is definitely inferior to his peers and not allowed in Touchables' homes. They were expected to cover their mouths when they talked and not allowed umbrellas, among many other disadvantages. Estha and Rahel are definitely in subordinate positions. For one, they are children of divorced parents. They were supposed to stay off to the side and not talk to anyone at Sophie Mol's funeral. Mammachi said her grandchildren suffered far greater than those the result of incest. "She meant having parents who were divorced. As though these were the only choices available to people: inbreeding or divorce" (59). They were expected to speak English around Sophie Mol and Margaret because they were English. Mammachi was embarrassed because their culture was definitely subordinate to the English. Chako told the twins they were part of a family of Anglophiles, "trapped outside their own culture" (51).