LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:12 December 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Myth of Sita in Bharati Mukherjee’s
Wife and The Holder of the World

T. Latha, M.A., M.Phil.


Abstract

One of the major trends in recent literature is to interpret the ancient myths, humanize them and offer a new interpretation. The use of myths in fiction is another narrative strategy followed by the writers in accordance with the demands of the times. Thus, the writers create a new language through the myths. For the women writers most of the mythological worlds are shattered to build up new worlds from their perspective. In Sitayana - (1987) Professor Srinivasa Iyengar rewrites the story of Sita. His Sita is not a rebel. She fits into the old pattern and remains with the same parameter but with understanding and acceptance. In Savitri, Sri Aurobindo expounds his philosophy through the account of Savitri’s life. In his work, the character of Savitri is imbued with a new meaning and life. Such archetypal images from mythologies are being portrayed in several new ways. Bharathi Mukherjee, Indian born American writer, uses this myth to show the condition of traditional Indian women and the modern American women. Dimple in Wife and Hannah in The Holder of the World try to follow the path of Sita. As they are modern, their reactions to life is different.

Keywords: mythology, myth, ideal woman, Rama, Sita, chastity, tolerance, submissiveness.

Myths for Women’s Submissive Role

Women writers like Shashi Despande, Anita Desai and Bharati Mukherjee use these myths to show women in the submissive role. Sita myth is used to refer to the chastity and purity of women. Savitri myth is used to stress the devotion of a woman to her husband. In general, these myths stress the idea that to be a good wife is to be a good woman. Shashi Despande has mentioned the myths of Sita, Savitri, Gandhari and Maitreyi. In The Long Silence, the heroine identifies herself with these women. Like Sita, who follows Rama to the forests, she follows her husband wherever he goes. Like Gandhari, she blindfolds herself to unpleasant realities in her home. She wonders at Savitri who reclaims her dead husband from the jaws of death. She also wonders at Maitreyi, who begs for knowledge and immortality from her husband.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

T. Latha. M.A. M.Phil.
Assistant Professor in English
N. K. R. Government Arts College for Women
Namakkal 637001
Tamilnadu
India
tlatharamesh@gmail.com
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