Are the Love Laws Really Bad According to GOST?

In our Themes presentation today, we were divided into groups and talked about possible quotes, as well as theses on specific themes. Our group's theme was the Love Laws and Mr. Heidkamp brought up a very interesting point. After reading the book it seems that most people feel a love/hate relationship toward the Love Laws. In our minds we think the Love Laws are wrong and want Velutha and Ammu to break through the ridged rules and end up together. However, we are disturbed by the sexual intimacy that Estha and Rahel share close to the end of the story.

The point that Mr. Heidkamp brought up is that there is no point in the book where Roy supports the idea of no Love Laws. According to the story, when Love Laws are broken everyones life is effected in a negative light. Velutha is murdered, Ammu spirals out of control and ends up also dying, and the twins are so disconnected and wrought with grief that they have sex as well. So I pose a question to all of you. What are the Cons of the Love Laws? And what are some examples of these in the story?

Comments

[Christy J.]

I personally think that Roy is making the point that the Love Laws are bad, and breaking them can be good in many ways. Most would argue that the relationship between Ammu and Velutha was good: they really loved each other, and coupled with a desire to escape the strict rigidity of their society, that made their relationship worthwhile. The only kink in their affair was the so-called "Love Laws," which tore apart two people who were happy together just because History has labeled one "Untouchable".

The relationship between Estha and Rahel, if looked at objectively, isn't so bad either. In ancient Egypt brothers and sisters were allowed to marry. The whole incest taboo is more based on a universal fear of inbreeding. The idea generally repulses people, but if you think about it, what happened between Estha and Rahel had nothing to do with sexual desire. It states in the book that what they shared was unimaginable grief, not love. If that was how they needed to deal with all the traumatizing things they'd gone through, that's up to them. I don't think readers should judge them so harshly.

[Wyatt J.]

All of the love laws aren't necessarily necessary, but they can't be eradicated completely. The twins definitely could have found a different way to deal with their grief. Incest is just wack.

An example of an unnecessary love law is when Baby Kochamma was in love with Father Mulligan, but she couldn't do anything about it, it was forbidden.

Also, when Ammu got a divorce from her first husband is an example of a bad love law. Had she been able to divorce him without any social/ familial repercussions, her dangerous/reckless side may never have surfaced.

I definitely recognize that there are many unnecessary love laws, but anti-incest is definitely not unnecessary. Again, incest is just wack.