Representation of Women in Selected Novels of Shashi Deshpande: A  Critical Appreciation in the Realm of Identity, Gender Role, and Cultural Superstition

Author(s)	Dr. Brajesh Kumar
Country	India
Abstract	This research paper demonstrates the representation of women in Shashi Deshpande's selected novels, emphasising on questions of identity, gender roles, and cultural superstitions. Deshpande, one of the most powerful voices in contemporary Indian English fiction, demonstrate the psychological, emotional, and social issue of middle-class Indian women torn between tradition and modernity. Her works, including That Long Silence, The Dark Holds No Terrors, and Roots and Shadows reflect women's internal confliction as they negotiate male dominated expectations while pursuing self-denial and autonomy. The study examines how Deshpande presents women not only as victims of oppressive societal frameworks, but also as conscious personality emerging to explore their silent feature.
Keywords	Women’s Identity, Gender Roles, Cultural Superstition, Male Dominated, Feminine Sensibility, Female Consciousness
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 2, March-April 2026
Published On	2026-03-30

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