THE SHAPING OF WOMANHOOD – A STUDY OF BHARATI MUKHERJEE'S JASMINE

ABSTRACT

The objective of the article is to intricate the mission of Bharati Mukherjee's female character in ?nding a space for her own without protesting but escaping the patriarchal dominance. Mukherjee focuses on the feminine issues from an existentialistic view to discover women's aspiration for freedom. The existentialist visualization of Bharati Mukherjee elucidates the transcending realities of women which is the most important contribution to the mpowerment of modern women. Her protagonist in her novel Jasmine moves away from all socially de?ned roles and determines to exist as independent soul in a new land to celebrate her unique self. Mukherjee's concept of self-emergence by walking away from patriarchy is highlighted and the better existence of woman as powerful and exclusive being in a faraway land is also scrutinized in this research work. Mukherjee's unique treatment of women places her as a prominent writer in the ?eld of Indian English Literature.