The first choice is a close reading of any primary text discussed in the course. These include: Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe); Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo); Matigari (Ngugi wa Thiong`o); The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy); Birds of Passage (Ciro Guerra/Cristina Gallego) and The House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros).

QUESTION

Final Essay
The Final essay for this class, Postcolonial Literatures is very much an open assignment. Below are three flexible prompts for your final essay. Your essay is to be 5-pages (approx. 1500 words) and in MLA format. If time and circumstances permit, you are encouraged to email submit early.
Close Reading:
The first choice is a close reading of any primary text discussed in the course. These include: Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe); Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo); Matigari (Ngugi wa Thiong`o); The God of Small Things (Arundhati Roy); Birds of Passage (Ciro Guerra/Cristina Gallego) and The House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros).
In a close reading, the author provides a detailed analysis of the text. This analysis can be applied to either one passage or a identified pattern within the text. Close readings are thesis driven essay which argue through textual analysis. For more guidance on close reading essays, please see the Close Reading Guide
Critical Lens:
For the Critical Lens essay you are to choose one of the theoretical texts we have read and either prove or disprove one or more of its arguments using the works of fictions we have used. In other words: choose one or more arguments from a theoretical text; does X work of fiction show this to be true? Or, rather, does the work of fiction contradict theorist’s argument(s). For more insight and guidance on the Critical Lens essay, please see supplemental material on blackboard.
Research Essay:
This essay offers more freedom. It is a research essay on any of the topics we have discussed in class related to either postcolonial studies or coloniality. These topics inclide, but are not limited to: colonialism (in Africa, or Asia), coloniality, decoloniality, neo-imperialism (in Africa or the Americas); hybridity; the importance of native languages; diaspora; hegemony; the nation-state, democracy, etc.
The object of this essay to offer an exposition on the topic chosen, offer a reflection/analysis as to its pertinence. You may use the any of the secondary texts from class, however, more sources are required (minimum of three scholarly sources). You may also use one of the primary texts used in class.
Note: the first two prompts have supplementary guides-the research essay is for the adventurous/curious.

ANSWER

The Role of Hybridity in Postcolonial Literature: A Close Reading of “The God of Small Things”

Postcolonial literature explores the aftermath of colonialism and its impact on culture, identity, and power dynamics. In Arundhati Roy’s novel “The God of Small Things,” the concept of hybridity emerges as a central theme. This essay will employ a close reading approach to analyze how Roy portrays hybridity through the characters, language, and narrative structure in the novel. By examining specific passages and patterns within the text, we will gain a deeper understanding of how hybridity challenges traditional notions of identity and cultural boundaries.

Hybridity as a Subversion of Identity

In “The God of Small Things,” Roy challenges the fixed categories of identity through the character of Estha. Estha’s identity is a blend of cultural, linguistic, and social influences, reflecting the hybrid nature of postcolonial societies (Qayoom, 2019). For instance, the following passage highlights Estha’s mixed heritage: “He was six and a half. He was an Abyssinian prince. He was a Chinese communist. He was an elevator. He was Miss Mitten’s favorite kitten.” Through this enumeration, Roy emphasizes Estha’s ability to transcend conventional identities, embracing multiple facets simultaneously.

Language and Hybridity

Language plays a significant role in expressing hybridity in postcolonial literature. Roy employs a mix of English, Malayalam, and local dialects to capture the diverse linguistic landscape of Kerala, India. This linguistic hybridity challenges the dominance of the English language imposed during colonial rule (Jadoon, 2017). For instance, the passage, “Loving a country that doesn’t love you is like loving a person who hates you,” reflects the linguistic tension between English and Malayalam, mirroring the broader struggles of hybrid identities in a postcolonial context.

Narrative Structure and Hybridity

Roy’s unconventional narrative structure, characterized by fragmented chronology and multiple perspectives, embodies the hybrid nature of postcolonial experiences. The non-linear storytelling disrupts the linear colonial narrative and presents a fractured reality, reflecting the fragmented identities of the characters (Trauma and Temporal Hybridity in Arundhati Roy’s “the God of Small Things” on JSTOR, n.d.). For example, the repetition of phrases like “Not everything was, is, or could be put into words” emphasizes the limitations of language and the complexity of hybrid identities, which resist easy categorization.

Conclusion

Through a close reading of Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things,” it becomes evident that the concept of hybridity is central to the exploration of postcolonial experiences. The novel challenges fixed notions of identity, language, and narrative structure, highlighting the complexities and contradictions inherent in hybrid identities. By embracing hybridity, Roy encourages readers to question the power dynamics and cultural boundaries imposed by colonial legacies. Through her vivid portrayal of characters like Estha, the use of multiple languages, and the fragmented narrative structure, Roy showcases the richness and resilience of hybrid cultures and their potential to challenge dominant narratives.

References

Jadoon, N. K. (2017). ABROGATION AND APPROPRIATION OF ENGLISH IN ARUNDHATI ROY’S THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325180407_ABROGATION_AND_APPROPRIATION_OF_ENGLISH_IN_ARUNDHATI_ROY’S_THE_GOD_OF_SMALL_THINGS 

Qayoom, M. (2019). The God of small trhings. Mul. https://www.academia.edu/38407516/The_God_of_small_trhings 

Trauma and Temporal Hybridity in Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things” on JSTOR. (n.d.). https://www.jstor.org/stable/41261824