Publication Details
Abstract
This paper analyzes the multifaceted nature of defiance within Arundhati Roy’s fictional works, “The God of Small Things” and “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”. Through centering the experiences of disenfranchised figures, Roy offers a sharp interrogation of institutional oppression, casteism, and state-sanctioned brutality. Although current literary criticism extensively details the subjugation and vulnerability of subaltern women trapped by patriarchal norms, social hierarchies, political dynamics, and religious dogmas, this inquiry focuses on their active agency against these systemic grievances. Drawing upon the theoretical insights of Guha, Spivak, Gramsci, and Crenshaw, this analysis maps the intersectional links between private rebellion and public activism. It highlights Roy's deconstruction of dominant power hierarchies alongside her pursuit of equity and human rights. Ultimately, the investigation uncovers the intricate tiers of opposition embedded in Roy's distinctive framing of diverse oppositional methods throughout her prose.