Defying the Old Shackles: Redefining the New Women in Shobha De’s Works

Abstract

Traditionally, women are celebrated as embodiments of sacrifice and suffering, as monuments of patience and devotion. They are depicted enacting various roles—as mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters—but never as individuals claiming their lives as their own, where they can seek personal gratification and self-fulfilment. This paper analyses Shobhaa De’s selected novels, Starry Nights and Socialite Evenings, to explore how the female characters challenge the institution of marriage, defying outdated patriarchal norms that expect women to be submissive and passive, heralding an awakening of women to a new understanding of their place and position within the family and society. By concentrating on the individuality and independence exhibited by these women, the paper investigates the evolving dynamics of women’s roles and status in society, particularly within the context of metropolitan culture and elite postmodern India.