The members of the Ipe family deal with a variety of social and political influences that cause

much internal and external struggle in the novel. In the larger society of Kerala, India (in the

1969 portion of the novel), Marxist ideas have taken root and begin to upset the class system

of landlords and laborers. This directly affects Paradise Pickles and the characters

of Velutha, Chacko, and Comrade Pillai. The ancient Hindu caste system is another important

factor – this system was officially abolished years earlier, but it still remains strongly

imprinted on the minds of the public. The “Love Laws” of the caste system are of particular

significance, particularly the divide between Touchables and Untouchables (a caste seen as

vastly inferior).

Most of the Ipe family is also “Syrian Christian,” and Mammachi and Baby Kochamma in

particular use their faith to justify many of their actions. Estha and Rahel, who are half-Hindu,

half-Syrian Christian, must then struggle with this conflicting identity. The gender double

standard of Indian society is another large factor in the plot, as Pappachi and Chacko’s sins

are generally overlooked, while Ammu is disgraced and scorned for being divorced. Overall,

the “small things” that occur between the characters of the novel serve as a microcosm for the

“big things” happening throughout India, as many political and social forces struggle against

each other and the country leans towards violence and unrest.
Chacko: Ammu’s brother, who received all the privilege that Ammu was denied. Chacko

went to Oxford and became a Rhodes Scholar. While in London he married Margaret

Kochamma, but she left him after their daughter, Sophie Mol, was born. Chacko then returns

to Ayemenem and takes over Paradise Pickles. Though Chacko supports Marxism, in practice

he acts as a typical landlord with traditional caste prejudices.

In addition to her commentary on Indian history and politics, Roy evaluates the Indian post

colonial complex, or the cultural attitudes of many Indians toward their former British rulers.

After Ammu calls her father a "[shit]-wiper" in Hindi for his blind devotion to the British,

Chacko explains to the twins that they come from a family of Anglophiles, or lovers of British
culture, "trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps". He goes on to

say that they despise themselves because of this.

A related inferiority complex is evident in the interactions between Untouchables and

Touchables in Ayemenem. Vellya Paapen is an example of an Untouchable so grateful to the

Touchable caste that he is willing to kill his son, Velutha, when he discovers that Velutha has

broken the most important rule of class segregation—that there be no inter-caste sexual

relations. In part, this reflects how many Untouchables have internalized caste segregation.

Nearly all of the relationships in the novel are somehow colored by cultural and caste tension,

including the twins' relationship with Sophie, Chacko's relationship with Margaret, Pappachi's

relationship with his family, and Ammu's relationship with Velutha. Characters such as Baby

Kochamma and Pappachi are the most rigid and vicious in their attempts to uphold that social

code, while Ammu and Velutha are the most unconventional and daring in unraveling it. Roy

implies that this is why they are punished so severely for their transgression.

Along with the caste system, readers see an economic class struggle. The Ipes are considered

upper class. They are factory owners, the dominating class. Mammachi and Baby Kochamma

would not deign to mix with those of a lower class.

However, Roy shows other types of less evident discrimination. For example, there is

religious discrimination. It is unacceptable for a Syrian Christian to marry a Hindu and vice

versa, and Hindus can only marry a Hindu from the same caste. In more than one passage of

the book, the reader feels Rahel's and Estha's discomfort at being half Hindu. Baby

Kochamma constantly makes disparaging comments about Hindus. On the other hand, there is

discomfort even between Christian denominations as is shown by Pappachi's negative

reaction when Baby Kochamma converts to Catholicism.

Chacko suffers more veiled racial discrimination, as it seems his daughter also does. His

English wife's parents were shocked and disapproving that their daughter would marry an
Indian, no matter how well educated. Sophie, at one point, mentions to her cousins that they

are all "wog", while she is "half-wog".

The Ipes are very class-conscious and feel a need to maintain their status. Discrimination is a

way of protecting their privileged position in society.