Wounds Within: Psychological Stress in Anita Desai’s Novels

Abstract

Anita Desai is one of the most renowned Indian English writers of the postcolonial era. Her
contribution to the Indian English literature is fabulous, and so her fame as a literary icon has spread far
and wide. It is interesting that she deliberately touches various issues of human life, both rural and urban
through her innovative approach. The objective of this research paper is to examine the psychological
traumas reflected in the following novels of Anita Desai: Cry, the Peacock (1963), Voices in the City
(1965), Where Shall We go This Summer (1975), Fire on the Mountain (1977) and Clear Light of the
Day (1980) which are the major literary recognitions. Her novels explore the story of those families that
survive a period of extreme circumstances and psychological trauma. She points out a number debatable
issue in the society through her novels. Her strong emphasis on the complexities of human existence
along with remarkable techniques seems to have contributed immensely to the success of her novels.
The characters like Maya, Monisha, Sita, Nanda and Vimla in her novels unfold a new vista through the
portrayal of their sufferings. She tries to project the agony and predicament of women in a male
dominated society.
Keywords: male dominated society, sufferings, superstitions, traditions, psychological
revolt.