The first two chapters of this novel were packed with information, but what interested me the most was the foreshadowing. It is known that Sophie Mol died, most likely to drowning, but not who did it. The foreshadowing in the book makes it clear that it was somehow the faults of Rahel and Estha. The strongest evidence of this occurs at the funeral. At the funeral they are not allowed to be near the family and have to stand apart. It appears as if them being allowed to attend the funeral was in question. Another thing that makes the death so interesting is that the portraits of their grandparents do not face the river. This seems to be done purposefully and hints at something terrible happening in the family. The death of Sophie hangs over the novel and is even compounded when the novel goes back in time. When the novel goes back in time it excites the reader to see how Sophie died and what role the twins had in her death.
Another thing that interests me about the novel is the role of Christianity. The story of Velutha's attempts to pull himself out of the caste system illustrates how Christianity appealed to some Indians. It allowed them to break the cycle of mistreatment from the upper castes. This also relates to the appeal of communism because this would be an opportunity for the untouchables to be seen as equals.
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