TRANSFORMATION FROM WOUNDS TO

WONDERS: A STUDY OF THE SELECT NOVELS

OF SIVAKAMI’S THE GRIP OF CHANGE AND
THE TAMING OF WOMEN

A THESIS

Submitted by

SHYNI S.P
(REG.NO. 20173103102206)

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN
ENGLISH LITERATURE

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

NANJIL CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE

KALIYAKKAVILAI-629153

APRIL 2018

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 NANJIL CATHOLIC COLLEGE OF ARTS AND
SCIENCE
KALIYAKKAVILAI-629153

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this Thesis titled Transformation From wounds to

wonders: a study of the select novels of Sivakami’s The Grip of Change and The
Taming of Women is a bonafide work of SHYNI S.P (Reg. No.
20173103102206) who carried out the work under my supervision. Certified
further that to the best of my knowledge the work reported here in does not
form 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 MA.,M Phil.,(Ph.D) Dr. Lison Varghese MA., MPhil., Ph.D
Assistant Professor and Head Assistant Professor
Department of English Department of English
Nanjil Catholic College of Nanjil Catholic College of
Arts and Science Arts and Science
Kaliyakavilai-629153 Kaliyakavilai-629153

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 ABSTRACT

Transformation from Wounds to Wonders: A Study of the select Novels of

Sivakami’s The Grip of Change and The Taming of Women focuses on the

subjugation of Dalit women in Indian society. It also gives a brief introduction on

Dalit writing and also various women writings of Dalit literature. The women writers

during this period delve deep into the female psyche and they try to bring out the

women’s suffering, social, economic and political problems faced by the woman in

the Indian society.

The Grip of the Change and Taming of women deals with the sorrows and

sufferings, trials and tribulations, despair and degradation, poverty and powerlessness

of the Dalits. The novels are one lofty image of the grief of Dalits especially the

women who are devoid of the inevitable essentials such as human dignity, liberty,

honor, justice, education and security. Gowri in The Grip of Change and Anandhayi

in The Taming of Women suffer and are denied their rightful place in the society. If

the pain of the Dalits has been born from the womb of rejection, then hope, the

corollary of pain, has to spring from the heart of revolution and Sivakami’s women

who suffer because of the pain inflicted on them by the so- called upper caste people

fight with the spirit of hope and try to change the society.

Women Sufferings it deals with Sivakami’s novel The Grip of Change. The

protagonist of the novel is Thangam, a poor Dalit widow. Thangam who has been

sexually exploited by the upper caste landlord is beaten up and dragged along the

streets by the landlord’s brothers-in law. As she receives no help from her villagers

and relatives she travels to the town to seek Kathamuthu’s help. The revenge taken by

the upper caste landlords is by refusing work to Dalits and cutting down their wages.

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The change in the novel is suggested through the youngsters like Chandran, Gowri

and Rasendran who are tired of the scheming politics of the Dalit leadership.

Chandran forms a union and raises his voice against injustice. The end of the novel

suggests that this small town is gearing up for changes.

Male Domination deals with The Taming of Woman. Its focuses on the women

suffering because of Male Domination. The protagonist Anandhayi discovered her

husband Periyannan’s paramour. Periyannan’s chauvinist attitude started to attack his

beloved concubine Lakshmi too, as days passed. His suspicion stabbed her with

vulgar comments on her character. Her attempt to commit suicide alone was

successful in her life. Even after her death Periyannan did not change his nature. He

kept on accusing Anandhayi as bad luck for him. From the beginning till the end the

women suffers much and they are made submissive under men according to the

tradition.

The researcher has followed the mechanics of writings mentioned in MLA

Handbook for writers of Research papers, Seventh edition, 2009.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost I thank God, the Almighty from the depth of my heart for
giving me health, knowledge and ability to carry out my research work successfully.

It is my duty to thank Rev. Dr. S. Maria Rajendran, MSW., M.A., MPhil.,

PhD, the Secretary, Nanjil Catholic College of Arts and Science, kaliyakkavilai and
Dr. Meenakshi Sundararajan, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D, Principal, Nanjil Catholic
College of Arts and Science, Kaliyakkavilai for providing me with all the facilities for
the accomplishment of this project work.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my guide Dr. Lison Varghese, MA., MPhil.,

Ph.D. Department of English, Nanjil Catholic College of Arts and Science,
Kaliyakkavilai for his scholarly guidance for completing my dissertation on time.

I greatly extend my sincere thanks to Asst. Prof.Mrs. S. Sushma Jenifer,

MA., M Phil., (Ph.D) Head of the Department, who deserves a special note of thanks
for all the moral support and guidance that she, has offered in all possible ways to
complete this dissertation successfully.

I greatly extend my sincere gratitude to Mrs. Blessy J, M.A., B.Ed., M.Phil.,

and Mr. Rooben Raja Sekar, M.A., M.Phil., Assistant Professors, Department of
English, helped me in my research work with far reaching discussion, sincere
evaluation, generous and incisive comments. I remember with gratitude the hours they
spent to bring it to its present form.

I express my thanks to the Librarians of SCILET, American College, Madurai

and Nanjil Catholic College of Arts and Science for providing me with the books and
secondary sources necessary for the preparation of my dissertation.

Above all, I express my sense of gratitude to my beloved parents and my

friends for being a source of strength and encouraging me with affection.

Shyni S.P

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

ABSTRACT iii

I INTRODUCTION 1-18

II WOMEN SUFFERINGS 19-42

III MALE DOMINATION 43-65

IV SUMMATION 66-72

REFERENCES 73-75

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