Towards Essentialism: The Novels of Arundhati Roy

Abstract

In this research paper, an attempt is to be made at analyzing notions of constructionism, essentialism, and anti-essentialism in literary criticism, especially feminism and gender criticism’ and to validate arguments with reference to the novels of Arundhati Roy; The God of Small Things (1997) and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017). In feminism, constructedness of femininity (the quality of being woman) in literature and culture is hotly contested across the world. Feminism as a movement came out after two hundred years struggle, around 60s of the twentieth century, to expose and derecognize gender politics, and as such to bring change in patriarchal society and ideology. Constructionists simply believe that all notions pertaining to female role and identity are the by-products of social and cultural apparatuses. As such, feminists seek by tooth and nail to invalidate essentialism (that is, some natural, given essence of the feminine which is universal and unchanging.). In the novel, The God of Small Things, we have very interesting character Ammu for the said purpose. Likewise, the character of Anjum in The Ministry of Utmost Happiness seems to be oriented towards the same end. In both novels, Arundhati Roy does not gloss over female essence. She seems to be favouring the view that biology counts.