Revolt and Reconciliation in Binding Vine by Shashi Deshpande

Abstract

The Tradition-oriented Indian society has experienced various changes in the last seven decades. One of the most fundamental and far-reaching social changes brought about after India’s independence has been the emancipation of women from their tradition -ridden ethos, which has resulted in the entering of women of the middle and upper classes into remunerative vocations that were largely the preserves of men. The widely affected area of this change has been the vital relationship between man and woman .Woman, is now gaining strength to rebel against the cultural social oppressions. But at the same time she fails to reject totally her social and cultural background. She stands therefore at crossroads, caught between tradition and modernity.

Shashi Deshpande in all her novels has dealt with the problems of new women. Especially she has concentrated on the theme of meaninglessness and sexual confusion suffered by women in tradition -oriented institutions. The reality of modern Indian woman is that even to the basic needs of life like love, marriage and sex, she is in a state of utter confusion. Her novels, featuring female protagonists, reconstruct aspects of women’s experience and attempt to give voice to “muted” ideologies, registering resistance. Her female protagonists are truly in search of inner strength and her attempt to given an honest portrayal of their frustration, hopes and disappointments makes her novels susceptible to treatment from the feminist angle. Deshpande not only shows the path but the right path which is necessary to live a happy life, for modern, emancipated, educated and intelligent middle-class working women.