"The use of innocence in literature is never innocent." How far do you agree with this statement in the light of "The god of small things" by Arundhati Roy, and "Clear light of day", by Anita Desai?

Introduction The innocent child has been a long-standing literary figure, used throughout the centuries and cultures by authors such as Dickens, keen to explore the subtleties and paradoxes of children. The latter-part of the twentieth century, however, has been especially rich in novels which give innocence a central role within the plot and the writing. In a society increasingly concerned with nurturing and protecting children, recognising their rights and their ability to express their thoughts …

…to illustrate these ideas : the innocent child could serve no better purpose. The third facet of a writer is that of being a craftsman of words, and using a different language and time-scale, that of a child's, is an exceptional opportunity to innovate and experiment. And thus, through considering an author's choice, one reaches a definition of what it means to be a writer : an artisan of words who watches the world and Man evolve.