Representation of Women and Women’s discourse in Novel Arukattuthurai

Abstract

Literature serves as a reflection of society, capturing the complexities of human experience and the cultural contexts in which it is produced. This study undertakes a critical examination of the construction of femininity in Tamilselvi's novel AruKaattuthurai, with a specific focus on the protagonist Samuthiravalli. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Mary Ellman, a pioneering feminist literary critic, this research explores how the novel perpetuates or subverts patriarchal notions of womanhood. Ellman's seminal work highlights the repetitive patterns of female characterization in literature, revealing the ways in which societal attitudes towards women are reflected and reinforced through literary representations. Through a feminist critique informed by Ellman's insights, this study analyses the character of Samuthiravalli, examining how the author's subconscious biases shape the feminine construct and whether the character serves as a voice for feminine experience. By deconstructing the literary representation of women in AruKaattuthurai, this research