Estha Grows Up Pre-maturely

Already I have noticed a lot of desire in Estha to be grown up, rather than the child he is. There is the part where they are at the movies and Rahel weighs too little for her chair to stay down, so "the chair folded her into itself like sandwich stuffing, and she watched from between her knees." However, "Estha, with more dignity than that, sat on the edge of his chair" (95). He doesn't want to be little, but rather strives to be "dignified" like an adult. He also refuses to use the toilet in the bathroom and actually stand on cans instead so that he can reach the urinal like a tall man would be able to do. He holds the tickets for the movie, which also makes him feel like he holds the ideal masculine power in the group of women that accompanies him. It is ironic, then, that he is the one who is literally forced (molested) to grow up way too fast, although he does not understand what is happening during the incident, only feeling complete fear (ie. "a Little Man's first encounter with Fear" (113)). The fact that his own personal desire to appear more mature than his sister was, in a way, carried out (although in a very wrong manner) and his sister, who cared nothing about how old she acted, points to the cruelness and irony of things.

Before the incident in the lobby of the theater, he had been singing happily and everyone wanted him to "'for heaven's sake, shut UP!!'" (96). He was even referred to as "Elvis the Pelvis". Now, he doesn't even talk. His high hopes were slaughtered that day and his jolliness as well. It is mournful to witness his high ambitions and personality side by side with his present day silence.

He is further humiliated by Baby Kochamma on the day at the airport that the family goes to meet Sophie Mol and Margaret. "'Elvis Presley,' Baby Kochamma said for revenge. 'I'm afraid we're a little behind the times here.' Everyone looked at Estha and laughed" (138). This moment is the breaking point for me. Tears welled up in my eyes because of how sad I felt about the bashing the character of Estha gets in this novel. The poor boy, who seems to have a heart of gold, continuously has his happiness smothered by others.

In a sort of sad way, this hits quite close to home for me. I also have a twin brother, and Estha in this book reminds me a lot of him. My brother has a very, very kind heart, like Estha, and it seems to me that everyone only sees him for his bad qualities and constantly puts him down. It pains me so much, and I think that is why the story of Estha really touches me. I feel protective over my twin brother just as I feel protective over Estha.