"Performing Silence: Gender Constitution, Patriarchy and Psychological Violence in Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence"

This paper examines the themes of patriarchy and gender-based violence in Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence, with a focus on Judith Butler’s theory of the performative act of gender constitution. Through the protagonist Jaya, Deshpande explores how patriarchal norms impose rigid gender roles on women, dictating their behaviour’s and silencing their voices. Jaya’s life is marked by the repetitive performance of expected behaviours’ as a wife and mother, aligning with Butler’s idea that gender is a construct formed through continuous acts dictated by societal expectations rather than an inherent identity. The novel portrays the psychological violence in enforced roles, as Jaya suppresses her desires, conforms to societal ideals, and loses her sense of self. By analyzing Jaya’s struggle to fulfill these roles, the paper reveals how gender-based oppression operates subtly through emotional and psychological constraints rather than physical abuse. This study highlights Deshpande’s critique of a society that perpetuates gender through the performative acts imposed on women, denying them the freedom to define their own identities. Jaya's internal conflict highlights the need for female agency and a shift from rigid roles to authentic self-expression. The paper examines That Long Silence as a commentary on the unspoken violence of patriarchy and the need to break the silence.

Keywords: Patriarchy, Gender-Based Violence, Performative Gender, Psychological Oppression, Female Agency.