Emergence of an Aware and Assertive Woman: A Study of Marital Relationship in the Novels of Anita Desai

Abstract

Abstract: This paper deals with the study of marital relationship, one of the most complex, subtle and chameleonic human relationship, in the lives of the protagonists in the novels of Anita Desai. Through the depiction of this relationship, the novelist tries to foray into the deep recesses of her protagonists’ psyche and reveals their strivings to attain a meaningful pattern of life. Through the depiction of varied kind of protagonists, the novelist tries to show that some of her initial protagonists are quite immature, having myopic vision of life, who reflect rigidity in their personality. This extreme rigidity and egoism creates insurmountable hurdles for them in their inter -personal relations as well as adjustment with the flux of life. Various social customs and traditions which demand sacrifice and adjustment for their part are beyond their comprehension at all. The harrowing despair in their marital relations and lack of recognition in the family and society cumulatively thrusts them into circumscribed zones of isolation. On the other hand, some of her characters are made of strong stuff. They are quite mature and tend to face various vicissitudes of life with a mature, flexible and compromising attitude. Since they have a strong desire to achieve an authentic kind of existence and this zeal makes them flexible to evaluate the pattern of life in totality and eventually, they succeed in evolving a new harmonious pattern life at a higher level of maturity and wisdom.