This paper examines the feminist perspective of Shashi Deshpande's "That Long Silence" (1988). This novel won the Sahitya Akademi award in the year 1990. In this novel, the soul protagonist is Jaya, whose complete control was taken over by her husband Mohan, after their marriage. Deshpande realistically depicts the inner conflicts of Jaya and her quest for the self or identity. This novel is about gender discrimination and inequality prevalent in society.
God created men and women equally, but the women’s rights were limited to small. Feminism as a movement might have originated in the West, but with the deterioration in the status of women in India and the subsequent efforts made during the freedom struggle to pave the way for equal access to education and equal status, there arose a need for feminist studies. The feminist movement advocates equal rights and equal opportunities for women. Feminism was portrayed by many writers of English literature and one among them is Shashi Deshpandae (1938).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Feminism in the Novel "That Long Silence"
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the feminist perspective within Shashi Deshpande's novel "That Long Silence," focusing on the protagonist Jaya's struggle with identity and gender roles. The analysis explores how societal expectations, patriarchal structures, and the demands of traditional marriage force women into silence, while investigating the protagonist's internal conflict and ultimate journey toward self-assertion.
- Analysis of feminist themes in Indian literature.
- Exploration of Jaya's quest for individual identity.
- Examination of the psychological impact of traditional marriage.
- Critique of gender discrimination and patriarchal inequality.
- The significance of creative expression as a form of protest.
Excerpt from the Book
Feminism in the Novel "That Long Silence"
In this novel, Deshpande deals with the burning issues regarding women’s position in the family and the society. The prime character of the novel ‘Jaya’ is the perfect representation of the modern women of today. She can be intercepted as a present time women of indecision who waves between family and self-assertion. She is an intelligent woman with graduation in English, a writer, and a columnist who had a bright career. Unfortunately, none of these attributes would provide her a respectable position in the eyes of her husband Mohan, who had socialization in a typical traditional environment. Jaya always recollects her days before and after marriage, and her lovable memories of childhood.
Before marriage Jaya has optimistic views on life as her father always encourages her by saying “‘I named you Jaya’ he said, ‘Jaya means victory’ “(15). But after the death of her father, ‘Ai’ her mother does not support her. This makes Jaya feebler and more vulnerable. Her mother always prefers her son and she even gifts their ancestral property i.e. the Dadar flat to her son rather than her daughter Jaya.
And after marriage, Jaya lives in the family life thinking about her family and her husband Mohan. On their wedding, Mohan renamed his wife Jaya as “Suhasini” as he wanted her to be ‘Soft, smiling, placid, motherly woman’ (16). Her period of marriage life comprises of confrontation between two phrases of her personality where the later had to be triumphant to appease her husband’s ego and to save her marriage. And in the end, she comes out to be a decided and determined woman who now knows how to strike a balance between her family and her identity in the family.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the theoretical framework of feminism and introduces Shashi Deshpande's novel as a reflection of the challenges women face in achieving independence.
2. Feminism in the Novel "That Long Silence": This section provides a detailed analysis of the protagonist Jaya, exploring her upbringing, her marriage to Mohan, her struggles with gender roles, and her eventual journey toward self-discovery through writing and reflection.
3. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, asserting that Jaya's character represents the split identity of the modern woman, and calls for an end to gender-based discrimination to ensure social and family harmony.
Keywords
Feminism, Women, Identity, Indian customs, Gender discrimination, Patriarchy, Marriage, Self-assertion, Social bondage, Silence, Psychological conflict, Equality, Independence, Domestic roles, Individual happiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the feminist perspective in Shashi Deshpande's novel "That Long Silence," specifically analyzing the protagonist's struggle for identity within a patriarchal societal framework.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the silencing of women in traditional marriages, gender inequality, the search for individual identity, and the conflict between personal aspirations and societal expectations.
What is the main research objective?
The primary goal is to examine how the protagonist, Jaya, navigates inner conflicts and societal pressures to reclaim her selfhood and break the "long silence" imposed by her domestic life.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing feminist theory and character study to evaluate the novel's representation of Indian women's experiences.
What is addressed in the main body of the paper?
The main body explores Jaya's life from childhood to marriage, her relationship with her husband Mohan, her exposure to other female characters, and her ultimate realization of her need for personal freedom and voice.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
The analysis is characterized by terms such as Feminism, Identity, Patriarchy, Gender discrimination, and Self-assertion.
How does Jaya’s relationship with her husband, Mohan, impact her identity?
Mohan represents traditional patriarchal expectations, demanding that Jaya be "soft and motherly." His lack of interest in her personal opinions and career leads to Jaya feeling fragmented and ultimately silencing her own voice to appease his ego.
What role does the character Kamat play in Jaya's development?
Kamat acts as a catalyst for Jaya's growth; by appreciating her writing and treating her as an equal, he helps her regain self-confidence and realize her potential beyond her role as a wife.
- Citation du texte
- Krishna Priya J. (Auteur), 2020, The Quest for Identity in Shashi Deshpande's "That Long Silence" (1988), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/942013
