Librería Samer Atenea
Kálamo Books
Librería Elías (Asturias)
Librería Kolima (Madrid)
Librería Proteo (Málaga)
In a world where environmental destruction and social injustice often exist side by side, Polluted Rivers and Social Inequality in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things presents a thoughtful exploration of how literature reflects these harsh realities. Focusing on The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, this book studies the relationship between polluted landscapes, caste divisions, class discrimination, and the lives of marginalized people in postcolonial India. At the centre of the discussion is the Meenachal River, a recurring image in the novel that mirrors the gradual collapse of both ecological balance and human values. Once associated with beauty, memory, and life, the river later becomes a symbol of neglect, contamination, and social separation. The study closely examines how environmental damage in the novel is connected to larger structures of power, privilege, and exclusion. It also shows how the poor and socially oppressed are the first to experience the consequences of ecological decline. The book brings together ideas from ecocriticism, postcolonial studies, and social theory to offer a fresh understanding of Roy’s narrative. Rather than treating nature as a background element, the study argues that the environment functions as an active presence within the story, shaping emotions, conflicts, and human relationships. The discussion further connects the themes of the novel with present-day concerns about environmental justice, inequality, and sustainable living. Written in a clear and engaging style, this work will be valuable for students, scholars, and general readers interested in literature, ecology, social criticism, and contemporary Indian writing.
