WOMEN IN EMANCIPATION

A POST MODERN EVIDENCE ON ANITA NAIR’S

SELECT NOVELS

A Thesis

Submitted by
OORSALAL T
REG. NO. 61012089

in partial fulfilment for the award of the degree of

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY
IN ENGLISH

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
NANJIL CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
KALIYAKKAVILAI– 629 153

APRIL 2017
 WOMEN IN EMANCIPATION
A POST MODERN EVIDENCE ON ANITA NAIR’S
SELECT NOVELS

A Thesis

Submitted by
OORSALAL T
REG. NO. 61012089

in partial fulfilment for the award of the degree of

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY
IN ENGLISH

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
NANJIL CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE
KALIYAKKAVILAI– 629 153

APRIL 2017
 NANJIL CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF ARTS AND
SCIENCE

KALIYAKKAVILAI– 629153

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this thesis titled “Women in Emancipation–A Post

Modern Evidence on Anita Nair’s Select Novels” is the bonafide work of

OORSALAL T (Reg. No: 61012089) who carried out the work under my

supervision. Certified further that to the best of my knowledge the work

reported herein does not from part of any other thesis or dissertation on the

basis of which a degree or award was conferred on an earlier occasion on

this or any other candidate.

Mrs. S. SUSHMA JENIFER, M.A., M.Phil
Assistant Professor & Head
Department of English
Nanjil Catholic College of Arts and Science,
Kaliyakkavilai.
Dr. G.R. GNANA RAJA, M.A., M.Phil., PhD
Assistant Professor & Supervisor
Department of English
Nanjil Catholic College of Arts and Science,
Kaliyakkavilai.
 ABSTRACT

The present study “Women in Emancipation–A Post Modern Evidence on Anita

Nair’s Select Novels” primarily undertakes the position of women in contemporary

Indian society and how they are suppressed and eventually fight against patriarchy to find

their identities. The introductory chapter opens with the description of Indian Literature

in the feministic perspective and also short biographical sketch of the author under study.

It also provides the detailed plan of the thesis.

The second chapter “Reflection of Spousal Relationship” expounds the problems of

man and woman relationship in Indian families. The Select novels of Anita Nair portray

the description of sexuality, aggression and abuse that prevails in the patriarchal society.

Nair discusses sexual relationship in class societies and power structure. It draws the

parallel power structures in between society and family.

The third chapter entitled “Domestic Violence” primarily discusses the sexual

violence on women in the Patriarchal society .Nair portrays how women are abused by

their husbands. Men in this society treat woman as an object. Nair cleverly intervenes the

events in a woman’s life is exploited and harassed by their families and society.

The fourth chapter entitled “Selfhood Women” describes women’s selfhood, in

which the women come out from all their bondage and social constructs. The traditional

society does not accept women’s emancipation and restrict all their desires and social

functioning. But few exceptional characters of the select novels come out from their

sufferings and get their own identity.

 The Fifth chapter is ‘conclusion’ which summarizes the previous chapters along

with the findings. Shashi Deshpande delves into deep of contemporary society and offers

authentic conflict between tradition and post modernity in her novels.

ACNOWLEDGEMENT

To God I raise my heart in deep gratitude and love for the abundance of grace,

wisdom, knowledge and good health he had given me to complete my dissertation with

interest and enthusiasm.

I am grateful to my guide and supervisor Dr. Gnana Raja Swho guided me in my

research work with far reaching discussion, sincere evaluation, generous and incisive

comments. I remember with gratitude the long hours he spent to bring it to its present

form.

I owe my thanks to the correspondent Rev. Dr. S. Maria Rajendran, M.A., MPhil.,

PhD. principal Dr. E. John Jothi Prakash., M.A., MPhil., PhD and Mrs. Sushma Jenifer

M.A., MPhill., Head of the Department of English, who was a great source of inspiration

to me throughout the preparation of this dissertation.

I would like to place my record of gratitude to the librarian of Nanjil Catholic

College of Arts and Science, Kaliyakkavilai and the American College, Madurai for

providing me with a number of books related to my work.

I like to express my heart full thanks to my parents, friends and lecturers who had

stood by my side at every point of my life. Their role towards completing the dissertation

has been enormous and encouraging. Finally, this study could not have been made

without the loving support, patience and good humour of my husband.

 OORSALAL T

CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO

I INTRODUCTION 1

II REFLECTION OF SPOUSAL RELATIONSHIP 16

III DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 34

IV SELFHOOD WOMEN 54

V CONCLUSION 76