Beyond Dollars: Materialism, Identity, and Emotional Bonds in Sudha Murty’s Dollar Bahu

Abstract

Sudha Murty’s Greenback Bahu offers a poignant exploration of family dynamics, cultural struggle, and the pervasive impact of materialism on interpersonal relationships. Through the contrasting lives of two daughters-in-law, one embodying conventional Indian value of simplicity, self-sacrifice, and emotional care, and the alternative symbolizing modernity and fabric achievement. Murty evaluates society’s growing obsession with wealth and standing. The novel delves into how the pursuit of material prosperity can erode emotional intimacy and deform familial hierarchies, in particular within traditional Indian families. By means of juxtaposing culture and modernity, Murty highlights the emotional and psychological effects of consumerism, particularly in shaping ladies’ roles and identities within the family. In the end, dollar Bahu underscores that authentic happiness and fulfilment come not from material wealth but from love, empathy, and human connection.