Analysis of The Awakening

 Shashi Deshpande through the present short story demonstrates the issues of Indian society and its
complexities
 In the beginning of the story Deshpande uncovers the family life of Alka and their unhealthy
relationship with their parents
 She delineates the trapped journey of Alka as she has decided to pursue her higher education in
abroad like other girls
 She posit herself as rebellious modern girls who feels at the beginning the burden of the family but at
the ending she accepts the life challenges to fulfil her dreams
 The ending of the story is quite suggestive that gives an eye opening message to face countless
problems to accomplish our dreams.
The Awakening: An analysis

 Deshpande has highlighted the changing relationships amongst the members of the family.
 Especially the changing relationship of parents and daughter is seen in her short story
 Deshpande deals with the middleclass woman and her problems.
 “Her stories depict a picture of women and their exploitation in a conventional male dominated
society.”
 Sita, Savitri have been treated as an ideals of loyalty in the Indian society.
 The society does not accept a woman as a person. It seems that the society does not allow any
women to live without the labels like a mother, daughter, sister, wife, mother-in-law, and daughter-
inlaw. While playing these roles woman has forgotten herself as a human being.
The Awakening: An analysis

 Shashi Deshpande portrays the picture of this woman she deals with the problems of women like
loneliness, quest for identity, sexual violence. Perhaps she compares the past with the present
conditions of women in her short story
 Protagonists of Shashi Deshpande are well educated, economically independent, career oriented
middle class women with independent views. But they have a clash with their mothers. Because
mothers are traditional, oppressed and tied with social norms. They follow these social norms.
 Mother is not lovable, traditional mother for the daughter. Deshpande portrays a conflict between
the daughter and the mother. It is quite natural that such conflict does exist. The daughter is
considered as a
The Awakening: An analysis

 The daughter is considered as the responsibility of mother. Mother tries to restrict the behavior of the
daughter in many respects
 The women protagonists in Deshpande's stories come to awakening through a crisis. They undergo the
transformation of consciousness by the end.
 Thus, she follows the liberal-feminist ideal which treats growth in consciousness as the end.
 However, this awakening leads the protagonists learn to assert themselves but are careful enough to
avoid a storm that may unsettle the happy family atmosphere.
 Deshpande communicates implicitly through her protagonists, the technique of constructing a
meaningful life in the midst of chaos and contingencies armed with emotion and intellect.
The Awakening: An analysis

 Instead of fighting against the patriarchal society and male domination, they take a balanced view of
life from a woman's point of view.
 They have strength of their own, and in spite of challenges and hostilities, remain uncrushed.
 According to Adele King, ‗Deshpande's strength lies in portraying uncertainties and doubts of
women, who cannot see themselves as heroic but who want to make life possible.‘ (King) 9
The Awakening: An analysis

 Deshpande herself explains:

 I have been able to feel more a housewife, who is most devoted ... Women who do not go out to
work, who are literally trapped, who are scared to get out of family relationships. Without that, she
feels she has no claim to whatever. Most women are still emotionally dependent on the family –
they want to be good daughters/wives/mothers – they want to be good daughters/wives/mothers
The Awakening: An analysis

 Deshpande’s Alka’s character is represented as a sensitive and thoughtful creature, who

ruminate over her fate and position in conservative society
 Key points: Title significance
 Character analysis
 Plot of the story
 The ending of the story