Reclaiming Agency: A Study of Sexual Autonomy of Women Characters in Namita Gokhale’s Paro and Shakuntala

ABSTRACT

Sexuality, particularly female sexuality, has historically been a taboo subject in many societies, often marginalized and depicted as passive in comparison to male sexuality. Women have long endured political, educational, economic, and social subjugation. However, one of the more concealed forms of this oppression lies in the suppression of female sexual identity, which has had profound psychological repercussions on women’s behaviour. Despite the political advancements in gender equality in numerous nations, women continue to be psychologically ensnared by deep-seated cultural and patriarchal norms, with sexual autonomy being especially stifling. Women’s bodies are often treated as possessions to be guarded by men, limiting their freedom in decisions regarding clothing, education, food, and sexual relations. The rise of feminist literary theory and psychoanalytic criticism has created space for women’s voices to be heard, offering a platform for the exploration of their struggles and identities. Female writers, in particular, have used literature as a tool to articulate the pain, challenges, and complexities of female existence. Namita Gokhale, a key figure in feminist literary discourse, has made significant contributions through her portrayal of female characters who challenge societal expectations, particularly in their sexual behaviour. These characters, depicted as rebellious and questioning, engage in premarital, marital, and extramarital relationships, thus asserting their sexual autonomy. This paper will analyse the sexual agency of female characters in Gokhale’s selected works, Paro: Dreams of Passion and Shakuntala: The Play of Memory. By examining these characters, the paper seeks to uncover the complexities of female sexuality, exploring the challenges these women face and the resilience they demonstrate in navigating and defying societal constraints.

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