The epigraph of The God of Small Things states a quote by John Berger, "Never again will a single story be told as though it's the only one." While Arundhati Roy's purpose of using this statement puzzles me (as I haven't yet read the entire novel), this quote obviously has meaning to the story. In every story told, perspective plays a quintessential role in portraying events and the opinions of those involved. However, as we learned earlier in the year from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk, "The Danger of a Single Story," learning only from a single perspective can be hazardous and create a one-dimensional outlook on the world. Another person who addressed the idea of the single story is Susan Sontag in the article we read,"Susan Sontag on Storytelling." In Sontag's words, she states: "we can’t tell all the stories — certainly not simultaneously. We know we must pick one story, well, one central story; we have to be selective." Here Sontag takes a slightly different perspective on the issue but she conveys a very similar message. To Sontag, every story holds truth within another and humanity is joined together by the centrality of the messages. In The God of Small Things, it seems as if the danger of miscommunication -- the single story -- is what will tear the family apart. Though we are all different, every human has similar desires, goals, insecurities, and internal battles. Roy's use of this John Berger quote as the epigraph foreshadows that the single story, or perspective, will bring conflict.
Article:
https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/03/30/susan-sontag-writing-storytelling-at-the-same-time/
This is a really interesting take on the idea of the single story, Steph! I really enjoyed how you connected it to the past works we read this year. I think you make a good point about how there is really just a lot of miscommunication in the novel that ends up tearing the family apart. A good example of this is Ammu's marriage, for her it is an abusive and treacherous relationship, but to her father, a white man would never do these things and his daughter must be lying. Ammu's mother feels shame, embarrassment but also jealousy towards the demise of the marriage. These various emotions each character shares during each conflict is a really important piece of the single story. It seems the danger of the single story is what brings about the most trouble in The God of Small Things.
ReplyDeleteI think another example of miscommunication is Estha's feelings. Obviously it will be hard to see his perspective, as he does not even speak. I hope we will hear his voice eventually...
ReplyDeleteI think a large piece of the miscommunications that plague the family is the emotional baggage all of them bring into the present. There are failed marriages, deaths and loneliness among other things that add to the confusion.
I loved this commentary on the relation between The God of Small Things and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's The Danger of the Single Story! I think that Adichie's Ted Talk on the single story is applicable to all stories, poems, and other works of literature. It is especially relevant to the book we are reading now, not only because of the quote that begins the novel, but because of the countless perspectives, opinions, and history of all characters in this novel. I agree that the emotional baggage these characters have will ultimately be the source of conflict in the novel. There are many conflicting opinions and perspectives, due to varying pasts, which are bound to eventually clash.
ReplyDeleteI can tell that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's single story TED Talk really rang true with you because you have made many references to it, but I think the connection you've made between The God of Small Things and Adichie's TED Talk is particularly insightful. I agree with your point on miscommunication causing a lot of family turmoil. I also like Kam's example of miscommunication between Ammu and her father regarding her marriage with Baba. I think if there was more communication, and less of a single story, there would be closer relationships within the family.
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