The Study of Psychological Realism and Female Subjectivity in Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence

Abstract

That Long Silence presents a compelling psychological and sociocultural study of Shashi Deshpande’s female protagonist, Jaya, an educated, middle-class Indian woman, whose life, both as a writer and wife, is constrained by different patriarchal expectations. Although intellectually equipped and aware of the social injustices surrounding her, Jaya finds herself unable to voice her thoughts openly. The contradiction between her potential as a writer and her imposed silence underscores the pervasive control of patriarchal structures over women’s self-expression. She extends this theme of silence beyond the protagonist, portraying a lineage of muted female voices: Jaya’s mother, grandmother, in-laws, cousin Kusum, and neighbour Mukta, who have all internalized societal norms that demand women’s passivity and endurance. The novel thus highlights how generational conditioning, cultural ideologies, and domestic expectations collectively work to suppress women’s individuality and agency. This novel is a complex interplay of personal, familial, and societal forces that contribute to Jaya’s emotional and creative crisis. Drawing upon feminist literary theory and critical perspectives, including the works of Simone de Beauvoir, Elaine Showalter, and Indian feminist scholars, the study explores how women’s silence has been historically constructed and maintained through both overt and subtle mechanisms of control. Deshpande uses Jaya’s story not only to critique the silence imposed on women but also to symbolize the broader struggle of women in postcolonial India to assert their identities, challenge societal norms, and reclaim their narratives.