Women’s Quest for self in Anita Desai’s –Where shall we go this summer

Abstract

Anita Desai is a prominent Indo-English novelist. She has added a new concept to the Indian English fiction. Her novel, ‘Where Shall We Go This Summer?’ brings forth the agonized self and feminine sensitivity of the protagonist Sita. The present study deals with identity crisis of women. Anita Desai’s works significantly highlight the complexities of human relationships especially in women and also exhibit different facets of feminine psyche. The study focuses primarily on the emotional exploration of the inner mind of Indian women and the mystic tensions of women seeking their identity in male-dominated society. It describes the tension between a sensitive wife Sita and the rational Raman. The protagonist is a nervous, sensitive, middle-aged woman who finds herself alienated. The purpose of this paper is to show how feminine sensitivity, marital disharmony, family relations and socio-cultural atmosphere are responsible for creating the feeling of loneliness in Sita and compelling her to alienate herself from family and society.