CULTURAL IDENTITY AND SOCIAL REALITIES: THE STRUGGLES OF WOMEN IN MANJU KAPUR’S ‘A MARRIED WOMAN’ AND ‘HOME’

Sakshi Arya

doi:10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i4.2024.4391

Authors

Dr. Sakshi Arya Sr. Assistant Professor, IIS (deemed to be University), Jaipur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i4.2024.4391

Keywords:

Manju Kapur, Feminist Literature, Patriarchy, Female Agency

Abstract [English]

This study examines the representation of women in Manju Kapur’s novels A Married Woman and Home, focusing on the challenges they face within the constraints of Indian society. Both novels explore the struggles of female protagonists—Astha and Nisha—who navigate societal expectations, marriage, and personal aspirations while confronting deeply ingrained patriarchal norms. Through a feminist and postcolonial literary lens, the research analyzes how Kapur critiques traditional gender roles, domestic oppression, and the stigma surrounding female agency. The findings reveal recurring themes of marital conflict, identity formation, gendered expectations, and the struggle for autonomy, underscoring the paradox of women’s empowerment in contemporary Indian society. Despite moments of rebellion, both protagonists ultimately find themselves bound by cultural expectations, illustrating the persistent societal resistance to female independence. Kapur’s narratives serve as a critique of traditional patriarchal structures while simultaneously portraying the complexities of women’s lived experiences.

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