Patriarchal Features in Post-Independence Indian English Novels

Abstract

Feminist analyses of novels can give insights about women’s life in contemporary society. Fifteen Indian novels written after independence by women and men novelists have been reviewed to understand the role of patriarchy with feminist approach. These novels depict patriarchy as symbolic power, property rights, essence of father, husband and child, urge for son, women’s activities for the sake of husband, etc. Hierarchal stratified caste base Indian social structure supports patriarchy as notion. Characters, setting or situations, dialogues, point of view, etc. in these selected novels show unequal, secondary and exploited status of women in Indian society. Women blindly follow patriarchal rules and traditional structure with rituals. Therefore, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity given in Constitution of India are yet to be achieved for women. Only few characters are rebellious for their constitutional rights and came out of home at workplaces but as ‘hands of gold’. The findings and analysis of the study are useful to understand the status of women in Indian society for planning and management to achieve constitutional provisions for social welfare.