Roots And Shadows Analysis

The novel Roots and Shadows (1983) is the first authentic and organized effort of Shashi Deshpande to probe into the various dimensions of feminine sensibility and its human possible. It was published in1983. Roots and Shadows is a symbolic depiction of the dialectical nature of man and woman Set against each other in material terms for power struggle. “Roots” stands for tradition and “shadows” signifies the marginal culture. The dying tradition is soon to become shadows against a backdrop of apocalyptic change. Also it suggests that over the root is removed; life is bereft of the binding force given way to new possibilities. “Roots and Shadows can be analyzed as a novel of the synthesis of dualism of tradition …show more content…
Indu visits her ancestral home after a gap of ten years to attend the function of Akka and also to settle the disputes related with the property of ancestors. In her judgements, she was accepted to safeguard the interests of all those who were associated with the ancestral house. “In the novel Roots and Shadows, ancestral home is projected as a manifestation of Indus’s affinity with her traditions”. Indu earlier left the home to settle her life with unconventional ways but now she shares emotional affinities with her deserted past. She moved out the house as an orphan. In her second homecoming, she finds herself at the threshold of a great change. Besides the settlement of property matters, she has to settle the marriage of her cousin, Mini. She stands a foil to Indu; she accepts her home confined spaces with a limited horizon of life. In spite of her own imaginings, Mini was destined to accept the challenge of marriage without personal vision and voice. Shashi Deshpande accepts that in traditional framework, marriage is more a social obligation than being related with the choices of individual. She mention, “behind the façade of romanticism, sentiments and tradition what was marriage after all, but two people brought together after cold blooded bargaining to meet, mate and reproduce so that the generation might …show more content…
In spite of her external grace, assertiveness and urge for freedom, she failed to come out of barriers in which she was placed by nature and the tradition of society. Shashi Deshpande accepts that the real strength of will is the only remedy to ensure a stable social position to women. Indian woman is not devoid of the strength of will but social constraints suppress them in such a way that the realization their will come too late. In this respect within the locale of the family, Shashi Deshpande accepts that the real strength of will is the only remedy to ensure a stable social position to woman. Indian woman is not devoid of the strength of will but social constraints suppress them in such a way that the realization of their will come too late. In this respect within the locale of the family. Shashi Deshpande makes a comparative review of three generations represented by Akka, Indu and Mini