Gender, Identity and patriarchy: A comparative study of Anita Desai's Cry, The Peacock and Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence

Indian English fiction has significantly contributed to the exploration of women's experiences within the socio-cultural framework of postcolonial India. Among the leading women novelists, Anita Desai and Shashi Deshpande have portrayed the complexities of female identity, psychological conflict, and patriarchal oppression with remarkable insight. This paper undertakes a comparative study of Anita Desai's Cry, the Peacock (1963) and Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence (1988), examining how the protagonists negotiate the challenges of marriage, gender discrimination, emotional isolation, and the search for selfhood. While Maya, the protagonist of Cry, the Peacock, experiences intense psychological alienation that culminates in personal tragedy, Jaya, the central character of That Long Silence, confronts patriarchal expectations through introspection and gradually moves toward self-awareness and self-expression. Using a comparative literary approach supported by feminist literary criticism, the study analyses the similarities and differences in the representation of women's identity, marital relationships, silence, and resistance. It argues that although both novels expose the restrictive structures of patriarchy, they present distinct responses to female oppression. Desai explores the devastating psychological consequences of emotional neglect and existential anxiety, whereas Deshpande emphasizes the possibility of empowerment through reflection, self-realization, and the rejection of imposed silence. The paper further highlights how both authors challenge traditional gender roles and advocate the recognition of women's individuality, dignity, and intellectual autonomy.