Throughout The God of Small Things, we get to see how things look from different characters' points of view – different versions of the same reality. We see Estha and Rahel at two very different points in their lives, 23 years apart. There is a stark difference between their perspectives as 7-year-olds and as 31-year-olds. As kids, we see them learning about the world as they go; as adults, they are trying to make sense of the past.
Questions About Versions of Reality
- What are some ways in which the twins are frightened by the way they perceive the world?
- How might it be useful for Rahel to create alternate explanations for Sophie Mol's death?
- What are some examples of how adults and kids view the same situation differently in the novel?
- Sometimes the way the twins view the world as kids can seem silly or cute, but in what ways are their observations insightful?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Viewing one event from multiple perspectives helps us get at the one true story.
Viewing one event from multiple perspectives shows us that there is no single "correct" version of things.