Patriarchal Hegemony and Marital Anguish in Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence

Abstract

Patriarchy is one such institution and this study aims to investigate the many nuances of this institution and how this phenomenon plays out in the context of marital ties, as seen through a close reading of Shashi Deshpande’s novel, That Long Silence. It’s the journey of Jaya, a young girl caught between tradition, family, and her ambition but desperately trying to figure out who she is and where she fits into an oppressive male-dominated country. Focusing on the themes of silence, conformity, and defiance, this work reveals Deshpande’s rejection of accepted gender roles and her promotion of women’s empowerment. The results show how silence sustains inequality while self-expression and self-agency lead to personal liberation. This paper weaves together the potential for liberation that comes from subverting established customs and cultural factories.