Parambil

Parambil is one of the novel's primary settings. Parambil is the name of the estate and surrounding community where Big Ammachi settles after marrying her husband when she is 12. Initially, Parambil feels both foreign and disorienting. Big Ammachi has trouble adjusting to this new environment, and spends much of her time longing for home.

Over time, however, Parambil becomes Big Ammachi's home. This is not only where she raises Baby Mol and Philipose, but where Philipose comes to raise his own family. He and Elsie settle here after their marriage. Philipose had plans to create a new life for himself in Madras. However, he quickly realized that Parambil was the only home he actually cared about and felt he belonged. He and Elsie find happiness for a time at Parambil while raising their son Ninan. The place becomes oppressive to Elsie, however, after Ninan is killed on Philipose's...