A study of Symbolism in the select short fiction of Shashi Deshpande It was Dark, Lucid Moments and My Beloved Charioteer

Abstract

       Writing of the highest kind is distinguished by the commanding use of similes, metaphors and imagery that pave the way to symbolic representation in literature. Though symbolism in literature can be traced back to the time that people started writing, Symbolism as a movement in literature began with the French writer Baudelaire and many writers across the globe were inspired by the movement. Many poets made effective use of symbolism in their poems. Though it was primarily a movement that influenced poetry, it also left its mark on fiction. Shashi Deshpande is one of the reputed Indian English Fiction writers whose writings are rich in symbols. Since a lot of research has already gone into her novels, I made an attempt to study some of her short stories and analyze how the felicitous use of symbols have enriched her stories.