Guilt and Transgression-Inner Suffering of Transgenders in Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Abstract

The present study centers on the life of transgender which is full of distress experiences throughout her life in Arundhati Roy’s novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. The novel explores many narratives that focus on the exploitation and pain experienced by transgender individuals, particularly with reference to Guilt and Transgression-Inner Suffering. In South Asian civilization, transgender individuals are classified as a distinct third gender. Specifically, in Indian society, transgender individuals are deprived of their rights and subjected to exploitation and the perpetuation of many stereotypical portrayals led the characters to guilt and transgression-inner suffering. Therefore, they are subjected to ridicule and mockery, with people using various derogatory terms to simplify and categorize them. An identical representation has been given and undertaken in the present study to examine the mistreatment and anguish experiences of transgender individuals in Arundhati Roy’s novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Close textual analysis has been employed as a methodology to examine the primary text in order to investigate the exploitation and anguish experienced by transgender individuals leading to guilt and transgress-inner suffering. The researcher has determined that the suffering and exploitation of transgender individuals are the result of societal causes, as well as the strong presence of inner distress. The research indicates that transgender individuals are marginalized in Indian society, lacking both status and recognition. They are excluded from the traditional gender binary of male and female.