Introducing Gender Violence in Desai's Fasting, Feasting: A Study of Patriarchal Norms and Performative Identity

The study explores the nuances of gender violence in Anita Desai’s novel Fasting, Feasting. It delves into exposing the intricate framework of personal experiences, family expectations, and societal norms that continue oppression. Through Uma’s narrative, Desai delicately exposes psychological control and emotional manipulation. On applying Butler’s theory of gender constitution and Performative act, Desai also discusses how cultural norms limit personality and cause pressure on people's independence. Uma is compelled to live up to patriarchal standards, which prevents her from pursuing her goals of education, independence, and self-identity. The paper further explores that Aruna's self-imposed starvation and Uma being forced into family life serve as an example of the limited agency and choice that is accessible to women in a society.

Desai makes a contrast between Indian and Western cultural norms by discussing Arun's experience in the United States, where Mrs. Patton, though living in a more liberated culture, faces repression and isolation within her family. This cross-cultural comparison shows that patriarchal power prevails in all communities, even though gender violence may take diverse forms. Through Uma’s narrative the novelist explores the notions of hidden violence by emphasising the significance of recognising and handling the struggles of women’s challenging situations. As this novel exemplifies the characteristics of Performative act, it presents the characters whose identities and behaviours are shaped by the means of societal norms. The study extends our knowledge of a complex connection between gender and agency in Indian families by examining the character’s struggles for liberty and individuality.

Keywords: Gender, Agency, Identity, Society.