The Pedagogical Exploration of Familial Value System Versus Aura of Capitalistic World In The Novel Dollar Bahu by Sudha Murthy: A Study of Identity Crisis

Abstract

The paper explores the novel Dollar Bahu written by Sudha Murthy by applying various literary and psychological theories, such as psychoanalytic theory, hierarchy of needs developed by Maslow, and Marxist criticism. The paper will examine how the story challenges the clash of the conservative values of Indian society with the enticing nature of capitalistic materialism represented by the symbolic image of the American dollar. By examining the main characters and characters in detail, especially the main characters, Gouramma, Vinuta, and Shamanna, this paper will propose that Murthy creates a moral system where genuine human interrelation and cultural groundedness have the final victory over the materialistic accretion. This ambiguity in the novel implies that it is the upholding of fundamental ethical principles ingrained in the Indian tradition that results in self-realisation and reconciliation to the family.