The gynocentric vision of Henry James and Jayakanthan: a select study

Abstract

A brief Introduction and socio-political backgrounds to Henry James and Jayakanthan is given. Detailed and comprehensive discussion on Gynocentricism and Gynocentric Vision is focused in perspective of the topic statement. A Review of Literature is made on a wider scale bringing out the contributions made by earlier researchers on James and Jayakanthan. A brief synopsis is given on the chosen novels of these two writers and a brief introduction to the forthcoming chapters. CHAPTER II REFINED FEMALE SUBJECTIVITY In the initial part of the chapter, the background information and the basic tenets of Feminism and its allied schools, the major exponents are focused. It is also established through this chapter that James and Jayakanthan are Eco-feminists with Gynocentric vision. It is also brought to focus that the women characters of James and Jayakanthan are the central preoccupation in their works. They are the axle upon which the action of the novel revolves and rotates. Though they appear to be modern, dynamic and sometimes even revolutionary, they remain in the transition stage between tradition and modernity. Thus, they exhibit a refined female subjectivity which is not radical in nature. The struggle for identity and individuality in Henry James women and the attempts to evade the physical, psychological and economic exploitations in Jayakanthan s women are focused.CHAPTER III MARRIAGE AS A CONFLICT Love, marriage and family relationships are the recurring leitmotifs and issues raised by James and Jayakanthan. Marriage is the most repeated theme in both the novelists Conflict, is central to the action in any literary work and marriage provides the conflict which provokes, promotes the physical and psychological action in their works. Both the novelists present an Existential version of marriage. The compromise and possibility of rejuvenation in Henry James and the attempt to redefine and restructure the institution of marriage in Jayakanthan are to be summed up and focused.