Dissecting Domination and Exploring Strategic Essentialism: A Critical Study of Girish Karnad's Nagamandala

Author(s)	DR. JITU SAIKIA, MS. ANGKRITA CHETIA
Country	India
Abstract	Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala, an illustrious testament to the literary genius of its creator, stands as a monumental work of artistic and thematic profundity. This play, woven in the rich tapestry of folktale tradition, delves into the intricate realms of gender dynamics, power struggles, and the harrowing experiences of Rani, the newlywed wife of Appanna. Rani emerges as the quintessential representation of women ensnared by the iron grip of a heteronormative and patriarchal society. This discourse draws on Michel Foucault’s concept of “Panopticism” as delineated in Discipline and Punish and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak’s “Subaltern Theory” expounded in Can the Subaltern Speak?, dissect the intricate power structures and amplify the silenced voices within a male-dominated societal framework. As a “sexualized subaltern”, Rani becomes the linchpin of the narrative, and the play’s climactic resolution serves as a resounding exemplification of strategic essentialism in action. Initially bowing to societal imperatives, Rani masterfully subverts her imposed subjugation to assert her agency, unmasking and deconstructing the system of domination that seeks to confine her.
Keywords	Gender, heteronormative, power, subvert, subaltern
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2025
Published On	2025-07-30
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i04.52398
Short DOI	https://doi.org/g9vpns

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