International Journal of Arts and Humanities

Limits, Protests, and Self-Discovery in Shashi Deshpande’s The Dark Holds No Terrors and Roots and Shadows

Abstract

Accepted 7^th September

Shashi Deshpande is one of the most accomplished contemporary Indian women writers in English. Deshpande’s novels are women-centred. Her women characters represent Indian middle-class society. Her novels are concerned with a woman’s quest for self. This dissertation entitled “Limits,  Protests and Self-Discovery” in Shashi Deshpande’s “The Dark Holds No Terrors” and “Roots and Shadows” concentrates on Deshpande’s sensitive portrayal of women and their mute, convoluted self-abnegation in her stories. “Shashi Deshpande’s Espousal of Women’s Rights deals with the writings of Deshpande. Deshpande has tried to show that the women, even after resisting the social taboos want to submit themselves to their conventional roles.  “Restrictions and Sarita’s Remonstrances” considers the age old customs imposed upon Saru by her mother and her outcries against it. “Traditional Impediments and Indu the non-conformist” presents the traditional norms and beliefs of the older generation and Indu’s reactions against it. “Rectification through self-realization” compares the plight of Saru and Indu. It also deals with their self-realization. Finally, a summary of the study was done to enhance a quick understanding of the text.

Keywords:  Limits, Protests, Self-Discovery, Shashi Deshpande’s The Dark Holds No Terrors and Roots and Shadows.