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@article{194471,
        author = {JOSHI RAIBEN.G and NARESHKUMAR A. PARMAR},
        title = {Psychological Conflict and Female Alienation in the Novels of Anita Desai},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {3598-3605},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=194471},
        abstract = {This paper examines the psychological dimensions of female identity in the novels of Anita Desai through the lens of feminist literary criticism. Anita Desai is widely recognized for her profound exploration of the inner emotional lives of women and their struggles within patriarchal social structures. Unlike many traditional narratives that focus on external conflicts, Desai’s fiction emphasizes the psychological experiences of female protagonists who face alienation, loneliness, and existential anxiety. The study analyzes four major characters Maya in Cry, the Peacock, Bim in Clear Light of Day, Nanda Kaul in Fire on the Mountain, and Sita in Where Shall We Go This Summer? to understand how Desai portrays women negotiating identity, autonomy, and emotional fulfillment. Through feminist theoretical perspectives, particularly the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir and Elaine Showalter, the paper explores how patriarchal expectations shape women’s psychological realities and restrict their individuality. The analysis demonstrates that Desai’s female characters often respond to oppression through introspection, silence, and emotional withdrawal, which function as subtle forms of resistance. Ultimately, the study argues that Anita Desai significantly contributes to feminist literature by presenting complex portrayals of women seeking selfhood and autonomy within restrictive social environments.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {March},
        }