Character of a Progressive Woman in Anuradha Roy’s All the Lives We Never Lived

Abstract

Anuradha Roy presents Gayatri, the protagonist in All the Lives We Never Lived, as a bold progressive woman. The story revolves around her quest for peace and happiness in life. She chooses her dreams over her family to fulfil her desires. In our patriarchal society, a man is usually not questioned as much for dereliction of family duties and responsibilities as a woman is when she happens to shy away from taking care of her family and children. It is perhaps because man dominates society, and woman is relegated to the submissive and subservient position in family and society. Modern-day women writers, such as Anuradha Roy, often take on issues and social situations where women are assuming new roles to bring about change in the social status of women. In All the Lives We Never Lived, Gayatri’s revolt against her husband is born out of her husband’s domineering nature.