Shashi Deshpande Character Analysis

In the formation of one’s character and value structure childhood plays an important role. Childhood as a significant area of human experience is not given ample emphasis as far as literature is concerned. In Indian English literature also women characters are widely depicted and critics have evaluated them. The girlhood of a woman is a critical part of her identity formation. In literature this period of identity formation of a woman is by and large un- examined and un- explored. Childhood experiences and atmosphere form one’s personality. The innocent child is like a little plant which is shaped and moulded the way it is nurtured. If it is well nurtured then it turns into a confident, fearless, healthy grown up human being, but if it is not nurtured well it turns into an immature, fearful character that cannot face the challenges in life.
Shashi Deshpande is perhaps one of the few Indian English writers who …show more content…
In analysing the predicament of the married woman, Deshpande traces the causes to their very childhood experiences. Though Deshpande does not have many child protagonists, except her children novels, but she looks very seriously into her protagonists’ psyche and analyse their childhood experiences in the backdrop of their present status in life. By putting emphasis on childhood of her characters, Deshpande reveals her conviction that all of them carry the legacy of their disturbed childhoods into their married lives. Deshpande also seems to suggest that for making a healthy society, girl children need to be given due care and support. Shashi Deshpande is perhaps one of the few Indian English writers who have portrayed the girl child with deliberation. There is a detailed examination of the girlhood of the protagonist who attempts to define her adult self identity by analysing her growing years. This process helps her realize her family upbringing and socialization in