How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Three or four times, swimming up through thick layers of drug-induced sleep, [Margaret Kochamma] had actually sought Estha out and slapped him until someone calmed her down and led her away. Later, she wrote to Ammu to apologize. By the time the letter arrived, Estha had been Returned and Ammu had had to pack her bags and leave. Only Rahel remained in Ayemenem to accept, on Estha's behalf, Margaret Kochamma's apology. I can't imagine what came over me, she wrote. I can only put it down to the effect of the tranquilizers. I had no right to behave the way I did, and want you to know that I am ashamed and terribly, terribly sorry. (13.169)
Here, guilt meets blame. Even when she's drugged out of her mind, Margaret Kochamma still blames Estha for Sophie Mol's death and slaps him around...and then she feels guilty about it. Of course, she doesn't admit that she truly does blame Estha – she blames the drugs.
Quote #8
Baby Kochamma looked at them for a long time before she spoke again.
"Your lovely little cousin's body is lying in the drawing room. The fish had eaten out her eyes. Her mother can't stop crying. Is that what you call playing?" (19.38-39)
Baby Kochamma is really, really good at laying on the guilt – especially when her own butt is on the line and she has to find someone else to blame.
Quote #9
"It's a terrible thing to take a person's life," Baby Kochamma said. "It's the worst thing that anyone can ever do. Even God doesn't forgive that. You know that, don't you?"
Two heads nodded twice.
"And yet" – she looked sadly at them – "you did it." She looked them in the eye. "You are murderers." She waited for this to sink in.
"You know that I know that it wasn't an accident. I know how jealous of her you were. And if the judge asks me in court I'll have to tell him, won't I? I can't tell a lie, can I?" (19.42-45)
Wow, how devilishly evil is Baby Kochamma right now? She knows exactly what game she's playing – she has to convince the kids that they're to blame for Sophie Mol's death. Her slow, deliberate way of talking terrorizes them into thinking that they have no other choice but to blame Velutha in order to save Ammu.