Taboos and Love Laws in "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Taboos exist in all societies; they are the conventions that govern behaviour and conduct. The basic definition of taboo is: "Any conventional social restriction" (Webster's New World Dictionary 600). This characterizes what is meant by a taboo very clearly, but, taboos are not always universal; they change with time and place. Furthermore, taboos may exist in all societies but are not recognized nor are violators prosecuted the same in all. Usually, the various classifications of taboos are either cultural or religious. For instance, many European cultures share the same taboos, whereas North America, Asia, and the other continents have their own. …