History YMMV / TheGodOfSmallThings

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: Very few of the characters are actually likable, with most characters ranging from bland and underdeveloped to horribly abusive and cruel, horrible things happen to characters who don't deserve it while other characters [[KarmaHoudini are never punished for their actions]], there's very little hope or cheerfulness in the book, and it's told in a very non-linear fashion that reveals several bad things that have happened or will happen.

** [[spoiler:Ammu's fate of dying alone in a cheap hotel room]]
* ValuesDissonance: Surrounding the book itself. The last chapter was ''severely'' controversial at the time of its release. Why? Because of the [[spoiler: painful, cathartic griefsex between a pair of twins?]] Nah, that gets a pass. The scene of [[spoiler: policemen brutally beating a man to a bloody pulp while two seven-year olds watch?]] Nope. It's the part of [[spoiler: loving, consensual sex between a Touchable woman and an Untouchable man.]] ''Shun!''
* TheWoobie: Velutha and Estha. And Rahel. And virtually ''everyone.''

* MoralEventHorizon: Baby Kochamma does a lot of despicable things in the novel, including making a false report that Velutha "assaulted" Ammu. She finally crosses this when, to save her own sorry skin from getting into trouble due to [[spoiler: Velutha's innocence and that the police beat him to death over a crime he didn't commit, she manipulates Estha and Rahel into testifying that Velutha kidnapped them and killed Sophie Mol. How does she accomplish this? By threatening the children with graphic descriptions of how Ammu will suffer horribly in jail because of them if they don't]].
** Pappachi crosses this in the past when, after having his discovery of a new species of moth taken from him, takes out his anger on his family, most notably [[DomesticAbuser his beating of Mammachi]] and [[AbusiveParents forcibly cutting Ammu's shoes in an "If I can't have what I want, no one can" gesture]].

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: Even while knowing that [[spoiler:they die very tragic deaths]], the final chapter featuring Ammu and Velutha's romantic encounter is definitely this. Tomorrow indeed.

* CompleteMonster: The Orangedrink Lemondrink Man, a sleazy pedophile who [[spoiler:traumatizes Estha by forcing the boy to give him a handjob and gets away with it. It is shown he delighted in making Estha as uncomfortable as possible.]]

* CompleteMonster: The Orangedrink Lemondrink Man who [[spoiler:traumatizes Estha by forcing the boy to give him a handjob]]

* EverybodyRemembersTheStripper: A lot of people just tend to make a fuss about the [[spoiler:{{Twincest}}]]and completely forget about the rest of the book.

** Pappachi crosses this in the past when, after having his discovery of a new species of moth taken from him, takes out his anger on his family, most notably his beating of Mammachi and forcibly cutting Ammu's shoes in an "If I can't have what I want, no one can" gesture.

* TheWoobie: Velutha and Estha. And Rahel. And ''everyone.'' Well, everyone but The Orangedrink Lemondrink Man (see CompleteMonster).

* TheWoobie: Velutha and Estha. And Rahel. And ''everyone.'' Well, everyone but The OrangeLemondrink Man (see CompleteMonster)

* MoralEventHorizon: Baby Kochamma does a lot of despicable things in the novel, including making a false report that Velutha "assaulted" Ammu. She finally crosses this when, to save her own sorry skin from getting into trouble due to [[spoiler: Velutha's innocence and that the police beat him to death over a crime he didn't commit,she manipulates Estha and Rahel into testifying that Velutha kidnapped them and killed Sophie Mol. How does she accomplish this? By threatening the children with graphic descriptions of how Ammu will suffer horribly in jail because of them if they don't]].

* TheWoobie: Velutha and Estha. And Rahel. And ''everyone.''

* MoralEventHorizon: Baby Kochamma crosses this when, to save her own sorry skin, [[spoiler:she manipulates Estha and Rahel into testifying that Velutha kidnapped them and killed Sophie Mol. How does she accomplish this? By threatening the children with graphic descriptions of how Ammu will suffer horribly in jail because of them if they don't]].

* MoralEventHorizon: Baby Kochamma crosses this when, to save her own sorry skin, [[spoiler:she manipulates Estha and Rahel into testifying that Velutha kidnapped and killed Sophie Mol. How does she accomplish this? By threatening the children with the notion that Ammu will go to jail and suffer because of them]].

** Pappachi crosses this in the past when, after having his discovery of a new species of moth taken from him, takes out his anger on his family, most notably his beating of Mammachi and forcibly cutting Ammu's shoes in a "If I can't have what I want, no one can" gesture.

* MomentsOfHeartwarming: Even while knowing that [[spoiler:they die very tragic deaths]], the final chapter featuring Ammu and Velutha's romantic encounter is definitely this.

** Pappachi crosses this in the past when, after having his discovery of a new species of moth taken from him, takes out his anger on his family including heavy beatings of Mammachi.

* MoralEventHorizon: Baby Kochamma crosses this when [[spoiler:manipulates Estha and Rahel into saying that Velutha kidnapped and killed Sophie Mol by threatening them that Ammu will suffer in jail because of them if they don't]].

* TearJerker: The last two chapters, which cover [[spoiler: Rahel and Estha's sex scene filled with "hideous grief]]," a {{Flashback}} of Rahel saying goodnight to her mother that shows how much they really did love each other, and [[spoiler: Ammu and Velutha's doomed affair]]. ''Especially'' the last chapter.

* TearJerker: The last two chapters, which cover [[spoiler: Rahel and Estha's sex scene filled with "hideous grief]]," a {{Flashback}} of Rahel saying goodnight to her mother that shows how much they really did love each other, and [[spoiler: Ammu and Velutha's doomed affair]]. ''Especially'' the last chapter.
--> '''Ammu''': Naaley ([[DramaticIrony Tomorrow]]).

--> '''Ammu''':"[[DramaticIrony Tomorrow]]."

* TheWoobie: Velutha and Estha.

* ValuesDissonance: Surrounding the book itself. The last chapter was ''severely'' controversial at the time of its release. Why? Because of the [[spoiler: painful, cathartic griefsex between a pair of twins?]] Nah, that gets a pass. The scene of [[spoiler: policemen brutally beating a man to a bloody pulp while two seven-year olds watch?]] Nope. It's the part of [[spoiler: loving, consensual sex between a Touchable woman and an Untouchable man.]] ''Shun!''

** JerkassWoobie: Sometimes the way she treats her children can be very frightening. But can you blame her when you look at how horrible her life is?

* EverybodyRemembersTheStripper: A lot of people just tend to make a fuss about the [[spoiler:{{Twincest}}]]and completely forget about the rest of the book.