Feminist Literary Criticism of Shobhaa De’s Second Thoughts

In the contemporary era literary criticism, terms related to ‘feminism’, ‘feminist reading’ ‘feminist’ writing’ and ‘feminist criticism’ or ‘gynocriticism’ as Elaine Showalter associate it, nowadays have become passwords. What is feminism? According to Oxford Dictionary, the term feminist persist in the modern period of the nineteenth century and it illustrates the qualities of females. The significance of these terms has been progressively changing and at present it refers to a theory of political, economic and social behaviour of sexes.

According to Pam Morris the term feminism categorize based on the two systematic progress. One is the gender variation is the base of the structural discrimination among women by which women undergo systematic societal inequality and the second is the quality between sexes is not only the outcome of biological requirement although it is formed by the cultural creation of gender bias. This lay outs feminism with its double schema to know the societal and spiritual system that instructs as well as perpetuates gender dissimilarity and subsequently to adjust them. Feminism is a sensuously detained ideology which opposes intentionally held ideologies to facilitate the dominance of masculine ability and supremacy.

In this today’s modern age gender inequality is there in both the western and the eastern countries. As a result of this, systematized male dominance has been functioning at the same time social structures like law, education, marriage, employment, religion all etc fed up through the cultural practices. However women’s aim is not to fight for rights only but also, argues to give more space in the existing male dominated patriarchal norms.

As the French feminist Julia Kristeva articulates “Women are one half of the sky”. The shifting of the accessible power relations among the two sexes would amount to a communal rebellion and this ways, which the today’s world regulates, would inevitably be transformed. Therefore the crucial end of the feminist should be for a new world observation, a new technique of knowing ourselves and our world, a new ethical order of meanings.

Simon De Beauvoir in her exploring work “The Second Sex’ seeks primary inquiries of modern feminism. In a critical venture when a woman struggles to seek her identity, she attempts to exemplify herself by saying. “I am a woman.” The factual analysis suggests the basic asymmetry between the terms ‘masculine and feminine’. In fact both these terms, feminine and masculine, represent “Social constructs-patterns of sexuality and behaviour imposed by cultural and social norms”. In this today’s day to day patriarchal society feminism is a historically specific movement, rooted in French English thought and in British liberalism and consequently wedded in deeply critical style to notions of truth, justice, freedom and equality.

Shobhaa De’s is one of the most popular writers in Indian English literature. A highly controversial writer, she is one of those contemporary women novelists whose works have placed her on great heights of commercial success. Almost all her novels with realistic and metaphorical portrayal of different aspects of feminine sensibility. Shobhaa De’s novels focus on the urban women belonging to the elite class. Shobhaa De’s voices their stresses and strains in a society which is on the path of transition from tradition to modernity. While writing about the high class society, she presents shocking truths about women’s persecution and exploitation, marginalization and commoditization thus raising vital questions on the identity of women in modern world.

The present research paper investigates the study of woman’s Quest for Self in Shobhaa De’s Second Thoughts. The objective purpose of this research is to focus on the quest for female self in Shobhaa De’s Second Thoughts.

The problem of search for identity or ‘self’ is intricately woven with problems related to the problem of existence. This has been a popular theme with most of the women writers of Indian fiction in English. Each one of them has tried to delineate this idea in their inimitable style. Shobhaa De’s is a popular columnist and journalist who has, in her frank and forthright manner depicted sensitive aspects of human life. Refusing to be labelled as a feminist, and preferring to be known as humanist, she has attempted at bold and open-hearted narrations of problems faced by women in a culture that basks in the glory of male superiority.

Second Thoughts published in the year 1996. It is Shobhaa De’s seventh novel in succession. The title of the novel brings to mind Simon De’s Beauvoir’s revolutionary text “The Second Sex”. When looked at closely, it becomes apparent that, Shobhaa De’s through the title of her novel refers to first thoughts of woman which are controlled and monitored by the rigid values and system prevalent in society. Her first thoughts about life are rife with hopes and aspirations, happiness and vigor. However, it is the system of patriarchy which renders her hapless and forsaken curtailing her desire for freedom and fulfillment. But when she realizes that it’s impossible to get happiness out of her first thoughts, she turns to second thoughts.

Shobhaa De’s Second Thoughts narrates the story of Maya. It reflects upon the hollowness of the conventional notions of the institutions of family and marriage. Maya’s marriage with Ranjan fails to bring in the bliss and happiness in her life that she dreamt of. Feeling stifled and desperate, she turns to Nikhil. It is in Nikhil’s lively company, which is a consequence of her Second Thoughts that she experiences happiness and fulfillment. Maya’s marriage is devoid of charm and excitement. Ranjan’s her husband is too preoccupied with himself and his job as a promising bank executive. Maya’s his newly married wife feels lonely, bored and exasperated by Ranjan’s cold and distant attitude towards her. But when her heart starts brimming with thoughts of Nikhil’s love, she no longer feels bad about Ranjan’s impersonal attitude. She takes everything in her stride easily and even finds his behaviour funny. She is happy and relaxed to know that there is someone who loves her. This also makes her feel special. The feeling of inclusion is completed and the feeling of alienations over. As Simon De Beauvoir says about marriage: “Marriage is a fate traditionally sanctioned to women by society. But marriage is not the same thing to a man as to woman.

The novel, through its story of love and betrayal, exposes the barrenness and hypocrisy of Indian marriage system. De also exhibits her mature understanding of the female psyche and unveils the sad plight of women torn between the desire for individuality on one hand, and a sense of obligation on the other.

Second Thoughts deals with the flaring issue of identity of women. Identity takes into its fold everything that helps to define oneself as “the real me”. It ascertains one’s individuality and expresses how a person thinks about himself particularly his inner self as opposed to what is perceived by people around him. Our society is a heterogeneous mix of people and personalities. It is based upon certain principles which differentiate a man from another. In other words, identity is a joint construct of an individual’s personality juxtaposed against the social order he belongs to. Identity thus is a psychosocial attribute. It is mostly shaped by constituents like social, cultural and political factors, conflicts, dilemmas, educational, and sexual matters. Identity is valued and desired by all.

Shobhaa De’s novel Second Thoughts focuses on the identity crisis of its chief protagonist Maya. Her identity is marked with negative connotations as a girl from Calcutta. We meet Chitra, Prodipda and Maya in the first part of the novel.

They have come to Bombay to meet the Mallik family as they want to offer Maya’s proposal as a bride for Ranjan Mallik. Both the mother and the uncle want to give Maya her deserving identity. A girl’s identity is generally based on her relation with her father, husband or son. In case of Maya too, her family believes that her alliance with the well-educated foreign-returned Ranjan who a good family background and a decent and respectable job will lead to a happy and harmonious relationship. Unfortunately Maya’s marriage turns out to be disaster. Maya’s doesn’t seem to have an, existence in the Mallik family be it as a wife or as a daughter-in-law. Traditional beliefs snatch away her identity as a daughter after her marriage. She is only Mrs.Mallik and that is her identity. Maya realizes that in the desire to acquire an identity, she has lost herself completely. She expects to be accepted and merged into their family which she can call as her own. Unfortunately, Ranjan guards all the borders and never allows her to be a part of his family. He denies her participation in the matters of the family. She is confined within the four walls of her house with her wings nipped off. Maya is made a slave, a captive in her own house. Thus, her freedom is curtailed and her identity is suppressed, and her “Self” is thwarted from blossoming as a woman and an individual.

She tries hard to lead a normal, healthy relationship with Ranjan as his wife. However, she is never able to make a room for herself which she can call her own. Ranjan’s rude and heartless comments humiliate her. She feels alienated and victimized in her own house. Women have for ages remained the butt of criticism, fowl treatment and censure. If she decides to be a mute sufferer, she is considered over her state of neglect and evaluates her behaviour to find out if there’s anything wrong with her for being assailed by her husband. She begins to feel claustrophobic in her own house owing to stark indifference and hostility from its inmates. She longs to be loved and cared for and craves for a sense of belongingness. Nikhil’s friendship and closeness soothes her heartache. He then placates Maya with moments of physical intimacy. It is for the first time that the reluctant and confused Maya is able to satiate the woman in her. However, this moment of awareness of her individuality is far too short-lived. The news of Nikhil’s engagement with Anshu shatters her dreams and she reconciles to domesticity and solitariness.

Maya’s search for self is not realized yet. It may be argued here that Maya has to endure the pain and agony of exploitation at the hands of both Ranjan and Nikhil who represent the faces of patriarchy. Both act as impediments in her path of self-realization. Ranjan marries the simple and innocent Maya at the behest of his mother. Maya is victimized by Ranjan in the guise of marriage for she continues to remain emotionally, socially and sexually deprived. Nikhil takes advantage of her loneliness and satisfies his own carefree intentions on the pretext of making the neglected wife, Maya happy. Maya’s innocence is beguiled in the name of marriage by Ranjan and love by Nikhil. The subdued and quiet Maya’s journey from innocence to experience renders her wise and strong. Although her “silent cry for true companionship for herself always remains unheard”. De’s self-assured Maya decides to move on in her quest undeterred with her decision to make new beginnings in her marriage.

Conclusion

Thus, Second Thoughts are vivid portrayals of Shobhaa De’s search for identity against the strong societal forces of patriarchy. Shobhaa De’s through her women characters shows her concern for their sufferings and marginalization in a male-dominated world. Shobhaa De’s women are modern, educated, intelligent and aware of their marginalized status. They openly express their discontent in the life of domesticity. Shobhaa De’s women desire equality with men and show their resentment for unresponsive men. They don’t shy away from displaying any dissension against views or beliefs that perpetuate their suppression. Their indulgence in extra-marital affairs, their deviant sexual behaviours, their liberal attitude towards sex and morals and their uninhibited language are all ways to protest against the patriarchal pressures prevalent in society. Shobhaa De’s women do not believe in the traditional image of women and their role in marriage, family and interpersonal relationships. They also detest dependency over the males in financial matters. They have radical views about marriage and family. Unlike the traditional women, they don’t subscribe to these two institutions as the source of ultimate happiness. They believe in freedom from bondage cast upon them by tradition. Shobhaa De’s women are the New Age Women-determined, unrestrained confident and assertive. Instead of seeking sympathy or crying over their forsaken state, Shobhaa De’s protagonists assert their existence. Maya, in Second Thoughts is aware of her emotional and physical needs and aspires for a plausible space in the family.

Shobhaa De’s novels Second Thoughts project her women’s frantic and frenzied struggle for existence through their unconventional behaviour, their sexual escapades and their desire to be free from the clutches their existence. They detest the idea of being treated in a fashion that pampers the male ego. In this context Shobhaa De’s women characters seem to raise, “a gendered, existentialist fight against invisibility and inability, challenging authority, stereotypes, icons and sexist values”. This then underlines the purpose of Shobhaa De’s fiction as an expression of women’s eternal struggle in search for self that seeks to reveal many imperceptible patterns of behaviour that brings frustration to women in their quest for identity.