“Discourse and Identity in Comparative Literature: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Gendered Power Structures”

The paper will investigate the intricate relationship between discourse, identity, and gendered power structures through the lens of comparative literature. By drawing from diverse literary traditions, this study highlights how gendered identities are both constructed and contested within cultural frameworks that either reinforce or resist patriarchal norms. Through a critical examination of key works by authors such as Anton Chekhov and Rabindranath Tagore, the article analyzes how language and narrative techniques reveal underlying power dynamics, exploring how characters negotiate their identities within oppressive or supportive social structures.

The analysis employs post-structuralist and feminist theories, particularly Foucault's discourse-power framework and Butler’s performative theory of gender, to understand how societal discourses shape and constrain identity. Additionally, the article integrates intersectional perspectives, examining how gender, race, and class converge to create complex layers of identity and oppression. By comparing texts from Russian and Indian contexts, this study reveals both the universal aspects of gendered oppression and the unique expressions of identity within each cultural framework.

Ultimately, this cross-cultural examination aims to underscore the role of literature in reflecting societal structures while also challenging readers to question and reimagine gendered power dynamics. The article calls for a broader, more inclusive discourse on gender in literature, arguing that comparative studies can foster global understanding and empathy. This exploration of discourse, identity, and power contributes to ongoing conversations on intersectionality, agency, and resistance, advocating for literature as a powerful medium for social critique and transformation.

Keywords: Comparative literature, Discourse analysis, Gendered power structures, Identity construction, Cross-cultural studies.

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