Intersecting feminism: gender, identity, and liberation in their eyes were watching God and The God of Small Things

Abstract

Women are not given their due social rights from time immemorial. To investigate the deplorable condition of women, two novels of different social contexts, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy, are used in this thesis. The thesis explores feminism and black feminism, considering the themes of society and class discrimination, gender disparity, and the importance of financial security in both novels. Both authors focus on the rules and regulations of society that marginalize women and lower-class people. In the novel, The God of Small Things,the protagonist Ammu understands that women’s voices are always suppressed and are meant to depend on their male family members. Therefore, Ammu tries to take control of her own life. Unfortunately, she has to bear the consequences of breaking the age-old rules of society. Similarly, in the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God,Janie also tries to find her independent voice by denying the typical roles set for women by society. She has to journey long to become a strong, independent woman. In addition, the study also examines the reasons behind men’s controlling behavior towards women. From the urge to prove their superiority, men dominate women and snatch their basic rights. To break this chain of injustice, women must struggle a lot. Eventually, during this journey, they are ostracized by the patriarchal society and fail to achieve their long-cherished freedom.