The Anatomy of Decay: The Toxic Intersection of Caste Purity and Ecological Ruin in Roy’s Kerala
Abstract
The symbiotic relationship between Brahmanical notions of purity and environmental degradation in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. Set against the lush but eroding landscape of Ayemenem, Kerala, the narrative illustrates how the rigid enforcement of caste boundaries mirrors the exploitation of the natural world. This study concludes that ecological restoration in the post-colonial context is impossible without first dismantling the structural purity that mandates the disposal of the marginalized.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Ecocriticism and Environmental Literature
Postcolonial and Cultural Literary Studies
South Asian Studies and Diaspora
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Journal of Research in English
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 10–12
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN