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Research Paper | Humanities | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 1430 - 1432 | India
Victimization of women in Shashi Deshpande's "That Long Silence"
Abstract: Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence portrays the unequal position of women within marriage and the wider patriarchal family structure. Through Jaya's troubled relationship with Mohan, the novel brings forward the emotional cost of silence, submission, and the gradual loss of personal identity. Jaya has spent much of her married life adjusting her wishes and behaviour to meet the expectations attached to a dutiful wife and mother. A crisis in Mohan's professional life gives her time to look closely at her marriage and confront the self she has long suppressed. The experiences of Vimla, Kusum, Jeeja, Ajji, and other women broaden this concern beyond Jaya's personal struggle, showing how gender inequality operates across different social and domestic situations. At the same time, the novel does not simply divide men and women into oppressors and victims. It also examines personal responsibility, dependence, communication, and the choices that sustain unequal relationships. Jaya's growing self-awareness marks her movement from passive silence toward a clearer understanding of her identity. That Long Silence therefore offers a thoughtful critique of patriarchal practices while presenting marriage and female emancipation with psychological and social complexity.
Keywords: That Long Silence, Shashi Deshpande, gender inequality, women's identity, patriarchy
How to Cite?: Dr. Randhir Kumar, "Victimization of women in Shashi Deshpande's "That Long Silence"", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1430-1432, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26821014507, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26821014507