Marriage, Patriarchy and Female Agency: A Comparative Study of Anita Desai and Namita Gokhale

Abstract

Abstract This research paper presents a comparative study of marriage, patriarchy, and female agency through selected works by Anita Desai and Namita Gokhale. By examining the evolution of the Indian English novel, this investigation explores how marital institutions function as primary engines of patriarchal regulation. Desai’s fiction maps the internal landscape, demonstrating how domestic confinement fosters profound psychological entrapment, emotional suffocation, and inward-facing resistance. Gokhale’s narratives utilize sharp wit, open subversion, and bold expressions of desire to dismantle orthodox gender roles and externalize female defiance. Utilizing feminist literary theory, psychoanalytical criticism, and sociological perspectives, the study evaluates contrasting trajectories of autonomy. The analysis reveals that while Desai’s characters seek liberation through quiet endurance, mental withdrawal, or tragic defeat, Gokhale’s heroines assert themselves through active rebellion and social confrontation. Despite distinct stylistic and generational approaches, the findings indicate that both authors converge on a central argument: reclaiming female agency is fundamentally non-negotiable for psychological survival. Ultimately, this comparative evaluation highlights how diverse literary strategies contribute to modern feminist discourse in Indian literature.