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MAJOR ESSAY QUESTIONS

Analyze Anita Desai„s Clear Light of the Day as a postcolonial feminist novel of symbols.

Word Length: 1800 to 2000 words. Submission date: 30th April, 20 marks

To be submitted in PDF format and emailed to tsheringcchoden@yahoo.com

“Feminism is a social movement that seeks equal right for women.” (Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.,

2006) It also tells that the feministic theory are loosely related set of approaches in various fields of

philosophy that emphasizes the role of gender in the formation of traditional philosophical

problems and concepts and the way in which traditional philosophy reflects and perpetuates bias

against women.

According to Jayawardena, “feminism mean[s] an awareness of women„s oppression and

exploitation within the family, at work and in society, and conscious action by women (and men) to

change this situation…” Desai in her real life did not classify herself as a feminist, however with the

Clear Light of day we see her attesting feminist conscious in her novel to a very large extent in the

persona of Bim.

Anita Desai's novel Clear Light of Day criticizes the controversy of women's roles in society by

exposing hardships that Desai demonstrates through the influence of the western culture, the desire

of true gender equality, and the social roles which women are forced to obey. Raja is an

independent and successful man while Bim must dampen her ambitions of finding the

independence that the men of their creed enjoy. Instead, we see her as being forced to accept

responsibility for her disabled younger brother while ensuring that her widowed, alcoholic, aunt

continues to behave in a manner that is appropriate for Indian society. On the other hand, Tara has

chosen to follow the traditional expectations of a domesticated house wife.

Postcolonial writers from the third world nations are well known for conceptualization of woman as

symbolic of nation and its culture through myths perpetuated by the patriarchal society thereby

subjugating her to the very norms of womanhood. (Ahmad, 2009)

The creation of myths that embody woman as a nation is all the more evident in the Mythological

women figure of Sita, Savitri, Draupadi or for that matter by any other name.

The social construct of India clearly expected their women to be loyal and faithful to their husbands.

Their purpose in life was to support, love and serve their husband like Sita and Savitri are known

for. Sita for following her husband to exile and Savitri by going against the will of the god of death

and bringing her husband back from death. These were synonymous with wifely virtue and were

upheld as a symbol of womanhood in India. Desai clear describes the gender roles under which the

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nation implicates the submission of women, as we see in Mira Masi. Desai explains how tradition

and custom disable women:

“There is a subtle, deep-rooted form of suppression, a secret connivance at the taking away of

freedom for which a whole society and its entire history with its burden of custom and tradition

must be indicted… one form of imprisonment in India is that created specifically for

women….around[ The Mother Goddess] exists a huge body of mythology. She is called by several

names – Sita, Draupadi, Durga, Parvati,Laxmi. In each myth she plays the role of the loyal wife,

unswerving in her devotion to her lord… the myth keep her bemused, bound hand and foot. To

rebel against it…cannot be permitted. It is the cornerstone on which the Indian family and therefore

Indian society are built.” (Desai, 2000)

Desai is clearly pointing out that women have no choice but to become a signatory to her own

disinheritance in the society. It compels her to the patriarchal ideologies of a submissive woman.

Not much has changed even in the twenty first century!

Anita Desai„s Clear Light of Day is an unsatisfied attempt of showcasing the patriarchal society of

the days before and after the independence of India. It evokes a connection between a woman and

a nation from the angle of one„s personal space in the society.

Desai also draws many momentous events of India„s independence and the partition onto which

the references serve as a backdrop for the story and the character alike. Clear Light of Day does not

revolve around the problems of independence and partition but it actually makes the readers

lament over the inability of the nation to meet the problems within it. This specifically can be

correlated with the character of Bim.

Bim in the novel is shown as an upholder of a family„s tradition and the national culture at large.

The portrayal of Bim as a strong independent woman who negotiates the patriarchal concepts to

some extent throws into disarray the cultural practices. The direct intervention to the culture of

India is very much evident in the line below:

“The Taj Mahal,” asked Bim, blowing out a spume of smoke that wavered in the darkness, avoiding

Tara„s eyes, watchful and wary. (Desai, 2000)

Clear Light of Day is often considered by scholars as the auto biography of Anita Desai. It is a novel

of symbols as it is writ with it. The dead cow in the well, baba„s attachment to the gramophone and

the slow descent of Mira masi towards insanity are some symbols in this beautiful novel. Bim„s

dream to leave her home and become someone great is an image that shows wasted potential. She

is trapped in a present time of responsibilities and a past that were riddled with regrets.

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The decaying aspect of the house is yet another symbol. It tells why the whole family got scattered

and only Bim remained with Baba in the “dead house”. The house has symbolic significance too,

and it plays a major role in emulating the deeds of Bim in her household.

Desai also show how Bim and Tara, Jaya and Sarla are subjected to culturally specific ways of

thinking. This way it also highlights their differences and similarities. On the other hand Mishra

family showcases the old traditional India. The three Mishra brothers are portrayed as shallow and

lazy who while away their days doing nothing but drinking whiskey in the evening. Besides the

laziness in them are supported by the hardworking sisters. Desai makes it clear to the reader by

showing them the oppression, nuances and the value system that governed the family and that

were felt by the women creed.

Through the eyes of Bim, the protagonist of the novel, Desai explores the psychological and the

social barrier that has led to the state of the Das and the Mishra family. Bim„s intellectual superiority

and sophistication is worth noting while in conversation with Bakul, the diplomat:

“Baku-bhai, tell me,” said the older brother, rolling the ice cubes in his glass.

“as a diplomat in an indian embassy, how do you explain the situation to foreigners?.... elegantly

holding his cigarette in its holder at arm„s length, Bakul told them in his ripest roundest tones, “What

I feel is my duty, my vocation, when I am abroad, is to be my country„s ambassador… I refuse to talk

about famine or drought or caste wars or- or political disputes… there I am an ambassador and I

choose to show them and inform them only the best, the finest.”

“The Taj Mahal,”asked Bim, blowing out a spume of smoke that wavered in the darkness and

avoiding Tara„s eye, watchful and wary.

“Yes, exactly,”said Bakul promptly. (Desai, 2000)

If we examine the above passage closely, we see that Desai is questioning the value system of the

richer class as in Bakul, the ambassador.

“… We are also reminded of Bim„s strength and independence in relation to all the characters of the

novel. The value system of the eldest looking after the old and the weak and maintaining the

household chores in an Indian society also reconnects us to understanding Bim as a strong woman

unlike her sister Tara who abandons her home and marries Bakul.” (Tekaha)

Through this novel we also see that less importance was given to girl„s education. We as readers see

that not much importance is given to girls„ education particularly the Misra daughters:

(Desai, 2000)

The greater part of Indian culture, even to this day, with an air of attitude flaunts their women„s

virtue. The submissive, close behind the curtain, working the hearth kind is still taken as a virtuous

and exemplary woman. But are they really free or are they happy with the same? It could still be a

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daunting task for the feminist philosophers to change this. The system of sati , burning oneself in the

funeral fire of one„s husband then– could still to me mean more of a compulsion than a woman„s

virtue ( how pointless and hopeless it was!). These set of dogmatic rules of the patriarchal society

has made Indian society a direct blow to the human rights that we call it. Nevertheless, with an air of

optimism, these forms of confining rules are changing with the advent of the 21st century. Women

are more independent than ever. Things are starting to look good for them. The women in the

kitchen mentality can be seen taking backstage in many societies of the world.

Desai indeed beautifully portrays the whims and fancy interwoven with the disgruntled feeling of

these women coming in direct conflict with the nature of the patriarchal society and then

encapsulating it into a lull paced yet interesting novel! It is perhaps her best book ever!

Bibliography Ahmad, H. (2009). Postnational Feminisms: Postcolonial Identities and Cosmopolitanism. New

York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc.

Desai, A. (2000). Clear Light of Day. New York: First Mariner Books .

Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. (2006). Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. New Delhi: Encyclopedia

Britannica Inc.

Manoj, A. (2011, 06 18). Clear Light of Day: Book review. Retrieved 04 19, 2011, from Library KV:

http://librarykvpattom.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/clear- light-of-day-book-review

Tekaha. (n.d.). Clear Light of Day by Anita Desai: A Book Review. Retrieved 04 19, 2012, from

nfobarrel:

http://www.infobarrel.com/Clear_Light_of_Day_by_Anita_Desai_A_Book_Review#ixzz1sN

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