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Harkness Discussion Questions

At the 2003 Porto Alegre meeting of the World Social Forum, Arundhati Roy said:
"Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories that are different from the ones we're being brainwashed to believe."
         How does this message relate to The God of Small Things? What idea about colonialism does Roy argue?

 How does the context of "Men's Needs" change throughout the novel? Even though the context changes, does the definition change?

 What is the significance of the Heart of Darkness? Why does Roy constantly allude to Conrad's novel while describing Ayemenem? Is there any irony in this description?

 How does the meaning of sex change throughout the novel? How are the relations between Chacko and strangers, Ammu and Velutha, and Rahel and Estha different?

 Who is a worse villain: Comrade Pillai or Baby Kochamma?

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