Baby Kochamma Versus the Twins

The God of Small Things

This conflict thread follows Baby Kochamma’s growing resentment of Ammu’s children and her coercion of them into a false account that protects herself.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Resentment in the Household Resentment in the Household from "The God of Small Things". Resentment in the Household Conditional Belonging Baby Kochamma believes Ammu and the twins have no proper claim to Ayemenem House.

Resentment in the Household from "The God of Small Things". Resentment in the Household Conditional Belonging Baby Kochamma believes Ammu and the twins have no proper claim to Ayemenem House.

Resentment in the Household Conditional Belonging Baby Kochamma believes Ammu and the twins have no proper claim to Ayemenem House. She regards their presence as a challenge to her own accepted sacrifices. Children as Rivals She begrudges the twins their closeness and happiness. Her resentment presents itself as discipline and concern for family respectability.

Public Humiliation Public Humiliation from "The God of Small Things". Public Humiliation The Marchers’ Joke During the Communist march, Baby Kochamma is made to wave a red flag and repeat a slogan.

Public Humiliation from "The God of Small Things". Public Humiliation The Marchers’ Joke During the Communist march, Baby Kochamma is made to wave a red flag and repeat a slogan.

Public Humiliation The Marchers’ Joke During the Communist march, Baby Kochamma is made to wave a red flag and repeat a slogan. She experiences the moment as a loss of dignity. Resentment Finds a Target She directs her anger at Velutha, connecting him in her mind with the marchers who mocked her. A personal humiliation becomes part of the later accusation against him.

The False Accusation The False Accusation from "The God of Small Things". The False Accusation A Story for the Police Baby Kochamma tells Inspector Thomas Mathew that Velutha attempted to assault Ammu’s niece.

The False Accusation from "The God of Small Things". The False Accusation A Story for the Police Baby Kochamma tells Inspector Thomas Mathew that Velutha attempted to assault Ammu’s niece.

The False Accusation A Story for the Police Baby Kochamma tells Inspector Thomas Mathew that Velutha attempted to assault Ammu’s niece. She hides the consensual affair and invents threats that did not occur. Self-Protection Her account protects the family name and shifts blame away from the adults who have failed the children. It also gives the police a pretext to act against Velutha.

A Threat Against Ammu A Threat Against Ammu from "The God of Small Things". A Threat Against Ammu Manufactured Guilt Baby Kochamma tells Rahel and Estha that they are murderers and that Ammu will go to jail unless they help.

A Threat Against Ammu from "The God of Small Things". A Threat Against Ammu Manufactured Guilt Baby Kochamma tells Rahel and Estha that they are murderers and that Ammu will go to jail unless they help.

A Threat Against Ammu Manufactured Guilt Baby Kochamma tells Rahel and Estha that they are murderers and that Ammu will go to jail unless they help. Her story turns a child’s accident into deliberate crime. A Forced Choice The twins are asked to identify Velutha as their abductor. They agree because they believe the lie is the only way to save their mother.

The Silence After Coercion The Silence After Coercion from "The God of Small Things". The Silence After Coercion Consequences Kept Hidden The twins carry the memory of their answer without a clear way to name the coercion behind it.

The Silence After Coercion from "The God of Small Things". The Silence After Coercion Consequences Kept Hidden The twins carry the memory of their answer without a clear way to name the coercion behind it.

The Silence After Coercion Consequences Kept Hidden The twins carry the memory of their answer without a clear way to name the coercion behind it. Their childhood ends in an atmosphere of fear and blame. A Lasting Estrangement Baby Kochamma remains guarded about what Rahel and Estha remember. The family survives the immediate scandal by leaving its youngest members to bear the consequences.

Before Sophie Mol arrives

At the railway crossing in December 1969

The morning after Sophie Mol’s drowning

After the twins are brought to the police station

From the police station into the twins’ adulthood