Depiction of Women’s Oppression in Shashi Despande’s That Long Silence

Abstract

This article examines Shashi Deshpande’s poignant portrayal of the subtle oppression women experiences in her novel That Long Silence (TLS). Through an in-depth analysis of the characters, narrative and plot, the researcher gives emphasis to how Shashi Deshpande skillfully exposes the societal structures that lead to gender inequality in Indian society. Women in the world are experiencing some sort of subtle oppression, either directly or indirectly, in the form of socio - cultural norms, old patriarchal values, conservative thoughts, religious rituals, traditional beliefs and so on. The women’s subtle oppression can include the issues they used to face because of the emotional imbalance, financial instability, prohibition of education and domestic work in the kitchen. Through the female characters like Jaya, Mohan’s mother, Jeeja, Manda and Nayana, the novelist Deshpande brings out the subtle suppression and oppression of society. These characters are willingly or unwillingly getting into the track and are unable to deviate or resist themselves from the ongoing path. They can take a pause but continue their journey until their deaths without any modification. The women are willing to liberate themselves from the shackles of the traditional roles which is imposed upon them. They are the victims of suppression that leads to everlasting depression in their life and there is no chance of deviation.