Voices of Women in Chitra Banerjee Divakurni’s The Palace of Illusions and The Forest of Enchantments

Authors

  • Amar Shankar Mahato Research Scholar, Department of English, Binod Bihari Mahto Koyalanchal University, Dhanbad, Jharkhand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56062/gtrs.2024.2.12.533

Keywords:

Sita, Draupadi, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Chitra Banerjee Divakurni.

Abstract

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novels The Palace of Illusions, and The Forest of Enchantments provide captivating narratives that explore women’s voices in Indian mythology and epics. In The Forest of EnchantmentsDivakaruni presents the story of Sita, the legendary wife of Lord Rama, through her perspective. The novel delves into Sita’s emotions, struggles, and resilience as she grapples with societal expectations and her identity. Similarly, The Palace of Illusions revolves around Draupadi, one of the central characters from the epic Mahabharata. Divakaruni brings Draupadi’s voice to the forefront, shedding light on her agency, strength, and vulnerabilities. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novels are a compelling exploration of the female characters in Indian mythology. Through her writings, Divakaruni challenges the traditionally male-centric portrayal of these characters and offers a fresh interpretation highlighting their multifaceted nature. Her novels provide a platform for women’s voices, allowing them to reclaim their stories and assert their presence in a patriarchal society. Divakaruni’s writing is engaging and offers a powerful testament to the resilience and power of women. Her novels bring to life the struggles, joys, and triumphs of female characters who have been largely ignored or marginalized in traditional Indian mythology. By doing so, she creates a space for diverse perspectives and highlights the importance of representation in literature. Divakaruni’s novels are essential for those seeking to explore and understand the diverse perspectives of Indian mythology. Her compelling writing style and insightful exploration of women’s experiences make these novels a valuable contribution to the literary world.

References

Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. The Palace of Illusions: A Novel. Picador India, 2018.

Divakaruni, Chitra Banerjee. The Forest of Enchantments. HarperCollins India, 2021.

Critic, The Last. “The Palace of Illusions – Book Review.” The Last Critic - Book Reviews, The Last Critic, 22 May 2020, thelastcritic.com/novel/the-palace-of-illusions-book-review/.

Pallavi. “Book Review: Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.” Feminism in India, FII Media Private Limited, 18 Mar. 2019, feminisminindia.com/2019/03/18/forest-of-enchantments-chitra-banerjee-divakaruni-review/.

Rathore, Geetanjali. “Sita: The Justly Emancipated Woman in Chitra Banerji Divakaruni’s the Forest of Enchantments.” International Journal of Scientific Research and Management, vol. 9, no. 09, 2021, pp. 1878–1880, doi:10.18535/ijsrm/v9i09.el02.

Chandran, Gheeta, et al. “Re-Imagining Sita in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantments: A Spiritual Ecofeminist Reading.” New Literaria, vol. 2, no. 2, 2021, pp. 61–71, doi:10.48189/nl.2022.v03i1.007.

Rajkumar, G. “Retelling of the Ramayana in the Voice of Sita- a Epic Revisiting in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Forest of Enchantment.” Shanlax International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities, vol. 9, no. 4, 2022, pp. 1–5, doi:10.34293/sijash.v9i4.4606.

Srivastava, Mamta. “Indian History, Myth and Panchaali in the Palace of Illusions.” The Creative Launcher, vol. 4, no. 4, 2019, pp. 31–36, doi:10.53032/tcl.2019.4.4.05.

Saharan, Shikha. “Draupadi’s Quest for Identity and Selfhood in Divakaruni’s ‘The Palace of Illusions.’” SMART MOVES JOURNAL IJELLH, 2022, pp. 37–42, doi:10.24113/ijellh.v10i7.11327.

Dhakal, Sabitri. “Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions: Challenging a Patriarchal Domain.” KMC Research Journal, vol. 1, no. 1, 2017, pp. 9–17, doi:10.3126/kmcrj.v1i1.28239.

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Published

2024-03-24

How to Cite

Amar Shankar Mahato , translator. “Voices of Women in Chitra Banerjee Divakurni’s The Palace of Illusions and The Forest of Enchantments”. Creative Saplings, vol. 3, no. 3, Mar. 2024, pp. 1-11, https://doi.org/10.56062/gtrs.2024.2.12.533.

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