Feminist Reinterpretations in the Works of Shashi Deshpande and Anita Desai

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of feminist reinterpretations in the fiction of Shashi Deshpande and Anita Desai, two major voices whose narratives foreground the complexities of women’s lives within socially constructed gender frameworks. It examines how both authors interrogate and destabilize patriarchal norms through subtle yet powerful narrative strategies, psychologically rich characterization, and introspective portrayals of female subjectivity.