Existential Feminism in Selected Novels of Manju Kapur

Abstract

Indian English literature has undergone a remarkable transformation through the works of women novelists who emphasize female subjectivity, identity, and resistance to patriarchal oppression. Manju Kapur stands out among these authors for her complex depiction of women juggling their wants with societal expectations. Her works depict the existential and psychological challenges faced by women torn between tradition and modernity. This research paper looks at the idea of existential feminism in a few of Manju Kapur's books, specifically Difficult Daughters, A Married Woman, Home, and The Immigrant. The novel examines how Kapur's female protagonists pursue identity, freedom, uniqueness, and self-realization amid repressive patriarchal systems by drawing on the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre. The study covers themes such as alienation, freedom of choice, marital discontent, sexuality, education, and resistance. The study contends that by challenging gender norms and pursuing genuine existence, Kapur's heroes represent existential feminist awareness. Through her realistic stories, Kapur portrays women as people who are constantly searching for their identity and purpose rather than just as victims.