Breaking the Boundaries of Silence: Feminist Conflict and Self-Realization in Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence

Abstract

Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence explores the inner world of the contemporary Indian woman who struggles to balance tradition and individuality within a patriarchal framework. The novel reflects the silent conflict of Jaya, an educated and introspective woman, who finds herself torn between her roles as a wife, mother, and writer. Deshpande uses Jaya’s journey to expose the psychological and emotional dilemmas that middle-class women face while navigating between their personal aspirations and the expectations imposed by society. The narrative, told in the first person, reveals the protagonist’s gradual awakening to her suppressed identity and her realization that silence is both her shield and her prison. The novel’s stream-of-consciousness technique and use of irony lend authenticity to Jaya’s voice, highlighting her transformation from passive acceptance to quiet assertion. Deshpande’s portrayal goes beyond mere feminist protest; it is an exploration of the universal human need for self-definition and communication. That Long Silence thus becomes a powerful study of the feminist dilemma the tension between compliance and rebellion that defines the experience of modern Indian women.