Estha's Silent Suffering
In Arundhati Roy’s novel the God of Small Things suffering affects
many of the characters, but it has the greatest impact on Estha. Estha’s personal
despair as a child has a lasting impact on his life and is never alleviated. It is evident
that his turmoil remains with him throughout his life because he gradually spirals
down into a life of silence. Estha’s silence does not have a great affect of those
around him he “acquired the ability to blend into the background of wherever he
was” (12). No one questions why he is mute, and his silencing was a “barely
noticeable quieting” (12). Estha experienced two events that are the origins of his
suffering, which eventually lead to his life of silence. The first was his experience
with the orange drink lemon drink man. Since he forced Estha to do horrible things
he essentially took away Estha’s innocence and his sense of safety. Throughout the
novel Estha thinks that the “orange drink lemon drink man could walk in any
minute” (185) and is in constant fear. The second event was when he was at the jail
after Velutha had been caught and beaten. Baby Kochamma forced Estha to say the
Velutha was guilty even though Estha knew he wasn’t. After these events Estha
becomes aware of the power of his voice and the harm it can inflict upon himself
and other people. At the movie theater Estha was sent into the lobby because he
could not stop singing and was disturbing the rest of the audience. Estha’s singing
catches the attention of the orange drink lemon drink man who molests Estha. After
his experience he lives in fear the orange drink lemon drink man will find him.
When Estha, Rahel, and Baby Kochamma are at the jail Estha is forced by Baby
Kochamma to lie and say that Velutha kidnapped him and Rahel. Baby Kochamma
asks Estha if he wants to “save Ammu” or “send her to jail” (302). Although Estha
knows that Velutha is innocent he tells the
many of the characters, but it has the greatest impact on Estha. Estha’s personal
despair as a child has a lasting impact on his life and is never alleviated. It is evident
that his turmoil remains with him throughout his life because he gradually spirals
down into a life of silence. Estha’s silence does not have a great affect of those
around him he “acquired the ability to blend into the background of wherever he
was” (12). No one questions why he is mute, and his silencing was a “barely
noticeable quieting” (12). Estha experienced two events that are the origins of his
suffering, which eventually lead to his life of silence. The first was his experience
with the orange drink lemon drink man. Since he forced Estha to do horrible things
he essentially took away Estha’s innocence and his sense of safety. Throughout the
novel Estha thinks that the “orange drink lemon drink man could walk in any
minute” (185) and is in constant fear. The second event was when he was at the jail
after Velutha had been caught and beaten. Baby Kochamma forced Estha to say the
Velutha was guilty even though Estha knew he wasn’t. After these events Estha
becomes aware of the power of his voice and the harm it can inflict upon himself
and other people. At the movie theater Estha was sent into the lobby because he
could not stop singing and was disturbing the rest of the audience. Estha’s singing
catches the attention of the orange drink lemon drink man who molests Estha. After
his experience he lives in fear the orange drink lemon drink man will find him.
When Estha, Rahel, and Baby Kochamma are at the jail Estha is forced by Baby
Kochamma to lie and say that Velutha kidnapped him and Rahel. Baby Kochamma
asks Estha if he wants to “save Ammu” or “send her to jail” (302). Although Estha
knows that Velutha is innocent he tells the