New Trends in Contemporary Literature in the Select Works of Anita Desai

Anita Desai’s fiction marks a pivotal shift in Indian English literature, transitioning from traditional social realism to profound psychological introspection. Through a textual analysis of Cry, the Peacock, Voices in the City, and Clear Light of Day, the research highlights her use of fragmented narratives, non-linear time, and interior monologues to articulate complex female consciousness. These works depict the intense alienation and emotional isolation inherent in modern domestic and urban life, prioritizing subjective experience over external action. Ultimately, Desai’s validation of the “inner climate” establishes her as a significant architect of contemporary narrative trends and feminist sensitivity.