Narrative of the muted selves

Abstract

Chitra Banerjee represents the more new-fangled generation of writers’ phase of Indian English fiction. The Palace of Illusions (2008) and The Forest of Enchantments (2019) depict the plight of two women belonging to two different eras who are forced to live in a patriarchal world, suffering from its clutches. The current study attempts to bring in the various aspects of feminism, the concept of a “New Woman”, and sheds fresh light on a major Hindu epic, and attempts to question a woman’s place in society and reflects on the idea of female autonomy in a patriarchal community. The paper attempts an all-inclusive discussion of the concept of feminism. It is important to trace the experiences of both the female characters and how they evolve as strong identities.