Linguistics ( Anita Ma'am )

Linguistics

The word linguistic originates from the Latin word 'lingua', it therefore certainly deals with language. Linguistic is scientific study of language. Its aim is to see a scientific understanding of language and the ways  in which it is organised to fulfill the need it serves and the function it performs in human life. It is not concerned with any particular language but rather is concerned with human language and recognizable part of human behaviour. Thus, the study of an individual language in the grammar of that language while the study of language in general in linguistics. Finegen and Besnier defines linguistics as “the scientific enquiry into human language into its structures and uses and into the relationship between them”

However, when we say linguist studies a language we mean he or she studies the mechanism of the language that is he or she studies the way a language works. Linguistics comprises language in all its form and manifestations. The subject matter of linguistics is all natural languages living or dead. It differs from the animal system of communication in various terms such as creativity, interchangeability, cultural transmission, displacement and so on.

Science, as a discipline, is a search for explanation which is its essence, one has to observe the facts closely beside which facts are relevant and which not mere guesses then check those guesses using rigorous logical thinking. A linguist, just like a scientist explains the observed data of natural languages alive or dead by constructing hypothesis, theories and laws and like scientific theories, a linguistic theory has to not only explain the observed data but also predict that which constitute potential though not actual data. A general principle explains what has already been observed and it predicts what has not been observed yet. For example, the English word like farm can be pronounced as |fa:m| with the long vowel will pose a problem for a native speaker of hindi who tend to simplify it |faaram|.

Proto-Indo European has three parts :
1)Germanic
2)Italic
3)Indo-Persian

Germanic includes English, German and Dutch.
Italic includes Latin, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
Indo-Persian includes Indic which has Sanskrit, Hindi and Gujrati.
Indo-Persian includes Persian which has Persian and Pashto.

Ferdinand de Sassure  (1857-1917), a swiss linguist, in his course of general linguistic puts forwards the concept of Langue and Parole. In the words of Sassure, La-langue of language, he calls it :
“The sum of images in the mind of individuals, it is not to be confused with human speech which it is a only a definite part, though certainly a essential one”.

He goes on to say that La-langue is a social product based on conventions. It is a system of real concrete linguistics signs and it is constituted of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Sassure then introduces the idea of Laparole is a set of all utterances that have actually been produced. La-langue on the other hand is the set of all utterances that can be produced. The difference between La-Langue and La-Parole has been described by Stephen Ullman in symantics and introduction to the signs of meaning. These differences can be expressed as columns.

Phonetics

The study of phonetics is concerned with the study and analysis of the generation, transmission and the reception of sound. However in most cases, the study phonetics restricts itself to the study and analysis of the sounds of human speech. Phonetics is generally divided into three branches :

1) Articulatory Phonetics
2) Auditory Phonetics
3) Acoustic Phonetics

Articulatory Phonetics

It is the most important branch of study of phonetics. It is concerned with study and analysis of various aspect of the various aspect of the production of the sounds of human speech. ( Production of sounds from the mouth their description and transcription )

Auditory Phonetics.

This branch of the study of phonetics, is concerned with study and the analysis of the function of hearing. It is thus the study of the reception of the sound by the ear and its processing in the brain. As such, in auditory phonetics the anatomy and the physiology of the human hearing mechanism are studied. Apart from these concepts such as decibel, that defects of hearing the use of audiogram. The concept of depthness and such others are related to the study of auditory phonetics.

Acoustic Phonetics

It is the study of the physical properties of the sound itself. It is thus concerned with the physical analysis of the sound. For an instance, the frequency and the amplitude of sound waves, the various sounds produced by various musical instruments. The tuning of musical instruments, the quality of sound produced by the ____ all related to the study of acoustic phonetics.

A new branch of phonetics called forensic phonetics has also emerged and is quite demanding in modern times. It is concerned with the investigation and detection of crime with the help of the analysis and characteristic properties of forensic finger prints, just as there is linguistic fingerprint of a person in written work, similarly there is phonetic finger print in speech habits of an individual. These are analysed in the study of forensic phonetics.

Physiology Of Speech Production

For the production of speech air stream mechanism is needed. The production of speech in human beings takes place through the aggressive pulmonic air-stream. The passage of this air stream is from the inside of the body to the outside so the air-stream is called aggressive. Since, this air-stream is generated by the action of lungs, thus the air stream is called pulmonic. The air is pushed out of the lungs through the mouth, nose or both.

a) The Respiratory System.
The respiratory system comprises, the lungs, the muscle of chest and the windpipe also called as trachea. The lungs perform the function of breathing or respiration under the actions of muscles of the chest. Under such action when the lungs are compressed. They throw the air out and when they expand, that draw the outside air in. The former process is breathing out exhalation and the latter breathing in or inhalation. In both cases, the air passes through the trachea.

The respiratory system plays a vital role in relation to the production of the speech sound through the process of breathing, the system provides an air stream that acts as a source of energy without an air-stream, no amount of activity on the path of the speech organs can produce a sound.

b) Phonetory Subsystem

The main function of the Phonetory Subsystem is phonation or to produce sound. The main Phonetory Subsystem are the upper end of the trachea, the larynx and the vocal cords. The parts of the Phonetory Subsystems are connected to the upper end of the trachea passes through the larynx, causing the vocal cords to vibrate. The vibration of the vocal cords reduces the sound. The rate of the vibration of the vocal cords is responsible for the pitch of the sound that is produced.

The vocal cords are joined at one end and separate at the other. Thus the space between the vocal cords is called glottis. Another function of the vocal cord is to stop any foreign body from entering into the lungs.

c) The Articulatory Subsystem

The articulatory Subsystem is that which is responsible for the articulation of the various kinds of sound units that are used by human beings for the purpose of oral communication. That is all the consonant, vowels, diphthongs, triphthongs and other kinds of sound units are produced through the coordination of the concerned parts of the articulatory Subsystem. The sounds are produced with a certain degree of precision by all human beings, the anatomy of whose articulatory parts are of normal structure. The important parts of articulatory subsystem are the two sets of teeth, the lips, the tongue and the palate.

Larynx

In the upper part of the trachea is a structure called the larynx. Formed of cartilages and muscle, its primary function is to act as valve, when necessary, it closes off the air from and to the lungs and also prevents food from entering the trachea. Its front is prominent in the neck, and is commonly known as the Adam's apple. Situated inside the larynx, is a pair of lip-like structures called the vocal cords. These are placed horizontally from front to back, joined at the front, but separated at the back. As they are separated at one end, they can assume a large number of positions. Important among these are three positions -

1) Vocal Cords drawn wide apart.
2) Vocal Cords held loosely together.
3) Vocal Cords held tightly together.

Vocal Cords drawn wide apart.

When the vocal cords are drawn wide apart, there is a wide opening between them, called glottis through this opening, the air can pass freely without setting the vocal cords into vibration. This is normal position of the vocal cords during the process of breathing. The speech sounds produced when the vocal cords are in this position to not have the human sound, they are voiceless sounds. Examples of such sounds are the initial sounds in the English words tan, cot, chair, film, thin, sheet, sin, etc.

Vocal Cords held loosely together.

When the vocal cords are held loosely together, the air from the lungs can escape only by setting them into vibration. Such vibration imparts a humm to the sound produced which are then called voiced sound. Example : all english vowels and the initials consonants in the English words such as dead, get, jug, men, nest etc. All languages have voiced as well as voiceless sound. All vowels are voiced sounds as for consonants. Some are voiced and others are voiceless.

Vocal cords held tightly together.

When the vocal cords are held tightly, held together along their whole length, the glottis is closed, therefore no air can escape through it. This is the position, the vocal cords must take at the time of eating or drinking, so that no food or liquid enters the windpipe. Proceeding from this position when the vocal cords are suddenly drawn apart. An explosive sound called the glottal stop is produced. Such a glottal stop which resembles the sound of a mild cough, may be found to occur infront of a forceful articulation of words as in the initial vowels, act, empty, uncle.

Pharynx

The pharynx extending from the top of the larynx to the hindermost part of the tongue is the pharynx. The shape and size of the pharyngeal cavity can be greatly modified by the contraction and the expansion of the muscles of the pharynx by the moment of the back of the tongue, by the position of the soft palette and by raising or lowering of the larynx, each such modification affecting the quality of the sound produced.

Lips

The lips play an important part in the production of certain speech sound. The initial sounds in the words such as pot and boat for example are made by first closing the lips together and then releasing the closure abruptly. The initial sound in the word ‘men’ is produced by keeping the lips shut and allowing the air to escape through the nose. Many vowels and the initial sound in the words are produced by protruding the lips and sounding them. The lip position therefore is an important factor in the production of speech sounds.

Teeth

Certain consonants are produced with the help of teeth. Such are the initial sounds in the word like- think, that, fan and ban. Beyond the teeth, in the upper jaw, is a whole area called the roof of the mouth, comprising the teeth ridge, the hard palate, the soft palate and the uvula.

a)The teeth ridge: Also called the alveolar ridge, is in the convex part of roof of the mouth lying immediately behind the upper teeth. It can be easily felt by placing the tongue behind the upper teeth. Many consonant sounds are produced at the teeth ridge. By making a complete closure at the teeth ridge, followed by a sudden release of the closure, one can produced ‘/t/’and ‘/d/’ sound in the English words as in ‘ ten’ and ‘day’.

b)The Hard Palate: The line immediately behind the teeth ridge is a hard bony surface, called the hard palate. It is a curved surface leading to the highest point of the roof of the mouth. At the de beginning are small corrugation that facilitate the movement is food. They also provide obstacles to the outgoing air, thus causing a hissing noise, that characterises ex- //,// sounds as in ‘so’ and ‘show’.

c)Soft palate (velum): The soft portion of the roof is called soft palate or velum. It is located at the back, just behind the hard palate and is responsible for the production of a large number of sounds. The position of soft palate is responsible for oral, nasal and nasalized sounds. When the soft palate is raised, no air can escape through the nose, it can escape only through mouth and therefore the sounds produced in this state of soft palate are called oral sounds.

Example- take, play, radio, lecture. When lowered the air can escape through the nose. Here, two possibilities arise, one if there is a closure at some point in the oral passage, the air can escape through the mouth as well as the nose. The sounds produced in the former position are called nasal sounds. For example- Him, Hen. And those produced in the later position are called nasalized sounds(Vowel sounds in brick, breath).

d)Uvula: At the very end of the soft palate is a small fleshy pendent structure known as the uvula. The back of the tongue can articulate with this structure to produce sounds example Come.

Tongue: The tongue is by far the most important single organ of speech. Its importance can be judged from the fact that in many languages the word tongue, means language. It is the most flexible organ of speech, can assume a large no. Of shapes and take many different positions, most of which are significant from the point of view of speech production. To describe these shapes and positions, the tongue can be divided into different parts. When the tongue is in a state of rest, the part of it lying behind the lower lip is called the tip, and that lying against the teeth ridge, the blade, and the part against the hard palate is called the front, and that against the soft palate is called the back. The edges of the tongue are called ridge. Any part of the tongue can be raised to any height or be made to touch the roof of the mouth to bring about numerous articulation.

Active & Passive Articulators

Active articulators are those organs of speech which move from their position of rest to articulate against other organs of speech that donot move. This in the production of | t | , | d | , | n | , | s | sounds. For example, the tip and blade of the tongue move from their position of rest to articulate against the teeth ridge. The tip and the blade of the tongue are therefore the active articulators where as the teeth ridge, the passive articulator again. In the production of |f| sound as in the fan. The lower lip is the active articulator and the upper teeth becomes the passive articulator.

As the lower jaw is movable while the upper jaw is not the active articulators are mostly located in the lower jaw and tha passive articulator in the upper jaw with an exception of soft palate.

The space from the Larynx upwards which extends all the way to the lips is called the vocal tract. It consist of Pharynx, the oral cavity, the nasal cavity. The pharynx is the part that extends up from the larynx to the velum. The velum or the soft palate is the value which closes the entrance to the nasal cavity when it is pressed up but opens the cavity when it is allowed to hang down as in the normal breathing. The peer shaped little blob of flesh which can be seen hanging down at the back of our throat or at the extreme end of the roof of the mouth is called Uvula when soft palate is raised the uvula touches the back ball of a Pharynx and the passage into the nose is closed. The air then cannot escape through the nose at all sounds during the production of which the air escapes through the mouth are called oral sounds.

< Diagram >

If the soft palate is lowered, the passage into nose is opened and if the passage into the mouth is blocked. (Either by closing the lips or by making the tongue touch some part of the roof of the mouth ) The air from the lungs will escape only through the nose sounds during the production of which the air escapes only through the nose are called nasal sounds.

< Diagram >

There are certain sounds during the articulation of which the soft palate is lowered this opening the nasal passage of air but the oral passage of air is also not blocked thus both the oral and nasal passage are open. The air from the lungs, therefore escapes simultaneously through the nose and the mouth. Such sounds are called nasalized sounds.

< Diagram >

Phonology :

Phonology is study of how the speech sound of language are used in that language to distinguish meaningful units from each other and how sounds are pattern in a language. According to Bloomfield, Phonology is the organisation of sounds into patterns. In order to fulfil the communicative functions, languages organised their material, the vocal noises into recurrent bits and pieces arranged in sound patterns. It is the study of this formal organisation of languages which is known as Phonology.

Phonology takes two types of approach first is the syntagmatic and second is paradigmatic approach. Saussure said that words become a sentence only when they are linked. At the level of sentence formation, there is syntactic system consisting of word classes such as noun, verb, adjective, adverb.

To quote Saussure

"In the syntag, a term acquires its value because it stands in opposition to everything that precedes or follows it.

According to the same linguist, the paradigmatic relationship has an associative nature words having something in common are associated in memories. For example : the word learning brings to the wind, book, study , knowledge student etc. These words are not related in a linear manner. Thus syntagmatic approach is linear and paradigmatic approach to use Sassure  term vertical.

He says :

“They are a part of inner store house that makes up language of each speaker.”

When we come to analyse the difference of phonetics and phonology, we find that phonetics is the study of speech sounds, how they are produced, transmitted and received. It is a study of all the possible sounds that human apparatus can produce. By contrast phonologyystudies the way speaker speaks the language. 

Systematically use a selections of sands in order to express meaning. It is the study of how we find order within the apparent chaos of speech sound. The primary aim of phonology is to discover the princu=iples that governs the way. Sounds are organised in language. The area of phonetics is wide enough where as in phonology it is confined to certain languages. Phonetic is one and same for all language of the but phonology of one language may differ from phonology of others. Every languages has its own selections of words and of organises them into characteristic patterns. Such selections and organisation of the sound constitute the phonology of the language. R.H. Robin also remembers that phonology is the general, descriptive and classificatory and phonology is particular and function of speech sound in a language or languages. Phonology therefore has been called as functional phonetics. This implies that given a repertoire of all the possible sounds in all the languages of the world, it is a phonology which will help us decides which sounds out of all possible sounds belong to which language, if there are for example fifty times of constant sounds which human being can produce. The phonology of English help us in selecting 24  consonants out of the 50 consonants which human being can produce. 

It is a phonology of a language which also tell us which sounds are phonemes which are allophones. Phonemes are the minimal distinctive units of sound. By minimal we mean that they cannot be further subdivided chunks by distinctive it implies that each phonemes is distinct from the other for example a word like cap …. this word consist of three sounds…., when we say that each of them is a distinctive unit what we imply is that if we substitute the sound… by the sound… in the word cat then the meaning of the word change, it would become a different tap.

 Similarly if we substitute the middle sound with … then once again meaning will change. Cap will become cup. Again if we substitute the final sound… with … the meaning will change and will become a new word thus each sound is distinctive in nature because substitution of one sound with the other sound will bring about the change in the meaning. The word distinctive has a synonyms in phonology, it is also known as contrastive that is when we substitute one sound by another and the substitution brings about the change in the meaning. We can say that the two sounds are distinctive or contrastive in nature.

A phoneme is therefore defined as a minimal distinctive unit of language. The meaning in the aforesaid example changes only because they belong to one language, English. It is only in English that the meaning of cap and tap , cap and cup, cap and cat are different. Thus each language has a selection of consonant and vowel sounds which may be different from the selection of vowels and consonants found in other language. 

All languages have a set of phonemes and phonology as a discipline studies the selection and organisation of sounds in a given language.

However while analysing language is also found that sometimes in a given language some sounds are minimal but not distinctive. This implies that sometimes there are sounds which do not bring about the change in the meaning not distinctive ; such sounds are called allophones. It is one of the member of variants of phoneme. For example, native speakers of English pronounce words like come, take, past as …………. i.e. soon after the production of the first sounds of these words as they produce the sound which is similar to the sound ‘h’ before they move on to produce the vowel sound, the production of sound ‘h’ is called aspirations. In English these three sounds are aspirated. And they are aspirated only when they occur initially in a stressed syllable for example Potato the sound |p| and |t| in the initial position of a syllable, the rule for aspiration applies to the initial sound of a stressed syllable and not the initial position of a word, but only the sound |t| in second syllable is aspirational because only this sound meets both the requirements needed for aspiration in English. Another important point regarding allophones is all the allophonic variants of a phoneme belong to the same phoneme that is ….are allophones of phoneme……and |p| is voiceless by labial, plosives and so is p, h, t is voiceless alveolar plosives and so is…and k is voiceless velar plosives and so is …thus ….have phonetic similarity with……

and allophones may either be in a complimentary variation or in a free variation. As complimentary variation is determined by its environment ( that part of the mouth from which it is produced ). For example the ‘l’ sound in light is not the same as in table. In the first word light, it is a clear ‘l’ sound and in the second word we have a dark ‘l’ sound. These two variants of sound ‘l’ is called as complimentary allophones. They are so because where the light ‘l’ sound appears, the dark ‘l’ cannot appear. In RP the sound |r| is an example of allophones in free variation. It is called so because it cannot be pronounced in a number of ways for example the sound are in red, protect and terrible.

Godaan ( Minz ma'am )

Godaan

Godaan is a hindi novel by Munshi Premchand translated into English as ‘The Gift Of A Cow’. It was first published in 1936 and is considered as greatest hindustani novels of modern Indian literature. Heed around the socio-economic deprivation as well as the exploitation of the poor villager, the novel was the last complete novel of Premchand. It was published in 1957 by Jai Ratan and P. Lal translation in 1968 by Gordon C Roadarmel. The story revolves around many characters representing the various sections of Indian community. The peasant and the rural society is represented by the family of Hori Mahato and his family members which includes Dhania, who is the wife, Rupa and Sona who are the daughters, Gobar, son of Hori, Jhumia, daughter in the law of Hori.

The story starts from a point where Hori has a deep desire of having a cow as other millions of poor peasants. He purchased on debt of ₹80, a cow from Bhola, a cowherd Hori tried to cheat his brothers for ₹10. This in turn led to a fight between his wife and his younger brother Heera's wife. Jealous of Hori, his younger brother Heera poisoned the cow and ran away because of the fear of police action. When the police came enquiring the death of the cow. Hori took a loan and paid the bribe to the police and was able to clear of his younger brother’s name. Jhumia, the daughter of Bhola, was a widow and eloped with Gobar after got pregnant by him. Because of the fear of action from villagers Gobar also ran away to the town. Hori and Dhania were unable to throw a girl carrying their son's child from their door step and gave her protection and accepted her as their daughter in law. The village panchayat finds Hori as his wife tackles the personal attack of the pandit on them for sheltering Jhumia. Hori again is compelled to take a loan and pay the penalty. Hori is in huge debt from local money lenders and eventually married off his daughter Rupa for mere ₹200 to save his ancestral land from being auctioned. But his determination to pay those ₹200 and to have a cow to provide milk to his grandson leads to Hori's death because of excessive work. When he is about to die, his wife Dhania took out all the money she had (₹1.25) and made Hori pay the priest on behalf of Godaan (cow donation). This eventually fulfills the traditional dream of Hori but his desire to pay back ₹200 to his son-in-law and to have a cow to feed the milk to his grandson remained unfulfilled. Hori is shown as a typical poor peasant who is the victim of circumstances and possesses all the deficiencies of common man but despite all this he stands by his honesty duties and judgement when time requires.

Problems due to caste segregation.

People of different vocation and their respective caste represent the village. Datadin the Brahmin priest represents the uppermost caste, he exploits the lower class villager with his various religious sanctions Hori (peasant), Bhola (cowherd), Selia (a cobbler’s daughter) represent the various hierarchies of lower castes in the caste system that existed in India.

Exploitation of the lower caste.

Premchand has drawn a realistic picture of the poor peasants exploited by the village Zamindars and the greedy money-lenders. The Zamindars collected the revenue and imposed fine. Here Rai Saheb fine Hori for the death of the cow though he didn’t kill it. The peasants are unable to pay the debts in time and it gets multiplied with the passage of time. The author is advocating the need of the feudal system that existed in the country.

Exploitation of women

The women characters Dhania, Jhunia, Se liya and Roopa are exploited by the men they love and they are dedicated to.

Interpersonal relationship (love and marriage)

Premchand as a progressive writer envisages a modern India where love and intercaste marriage would thrive. We have the intercaste marriages of Gobar and Jhunia and Nata and Seliya and that of the educated pair, Rudrapratap and Sarg. The marital relationship of Mr. Khanna and his wife is strained as he lacks love and respect for her. Mr. Mehta and Miss Malathi have serious thought provoking discussions on the issues of love, the institutions of marriage, the relation of man and women and womenhood. They represent the voice of modern India and mutually decide to live as free friends serving society in their respective capacities.

________________________

The gift of a cow revolves around Hori Ram who lives with his family in the small village Belari. Hori is a poor farmer, a decent soul but like all other villagers, is deeply indebted. Hori believes in the order of the day which also means putting the welfare of the local Zamindar Rai Saheb Amarpal Singh ahead of that of his family. The title of the novel 'Godaan' refers to 'the gift of a cow' by a pious hindu Brhaman at the time of death. But while Hori longs for a cow to call his own, it is not that easy. The hope that will have one to give at his death, creates a sense of pathos. Getting a cow is something Hori does dream of :

" it was his life's ambition, his greatest dream, since any ideas of living of bank interest, of buying land or of building a mansion where two grandiose for his cramped mind to comprehend"

Among the consequences of his having accepted the cow, from a herdsman Bhola is that Hori's son Gobar falls head over heels in love with Bhola's daughter and begins an affair with her. When she gets pregnant, Gobar brings her to his family's home. He sends her ahead and he himself moves to town in order to make good money.

The proper thing for Hori and his wife to do is, not to allow Jhumia to their house, but they are decent folk ( which in that society means they are weak ). And they do the right thing and take the poor peasant girl in. This cast all in dishonour and the whole village is outraged.

Caste is one of the central features of the society. The villagers are largely of same caste and this makes them a sort of extended family. Caste however brings obligations with it. Bringing someone like Jhumia who has dishonored her family by her actions into the hope of Hori is a major no . Hori is only fined by this act.

The village is a place of odd contrast. On one hand everyone tries to turn things to their own advantage and on the other, there is a surprising generosity of spirit and a willingness to help those who are down on their luck.

The major problem of the village is that everyone is deep in debt and that debt keep growing. Premchand denotes considerable space to money lending practices since it was central to the lives of the villagers ( the unavailability of ready credit at reasonable terms ) is convincingly as one of the main reasons for the miserable life of the villagers.

The money problem is also faced by the rich and urban class that includes the Zamindars, lawyers, professors, industrialists and other business men. Rai Saheb laments "Our parasitic existence has crippled us... sometimes...sometimes I think the government would do us a big favour by confiscating lands and making us work for a living. " We have fallen prey to the system, a system that's completely destroying us. Godan can also viewed as political novel. Though Premchand generally concentrates on recounting the village people, the contrast between village and city life is well handled. Gobar is the main character who bridges the two worlds, first he does well in town but then returns to the right thing in his village. Premchand offers a good picture Indian society of this time. He focusses more on the simplistic way of life to quote

" if there weren't injustice in the world, why should people call it hell ".

The novel offers a rich picture of humanity and is a good presentation on social criticism.

Pride and Prejudice ( Minz ma'am )

Pride and Prejudice

Characters :

Mr. Bennet
Mrs. Bennet
Jane
Elizabeth
Mary
Catherine
Lydia

Historical background.

The original version of Pride and Prejudice came under the name, ‘First Impressions’ which was completed in 1797. The work was rewritten and was renamed, Pride and Prejudice in the year 1813. It became the representative of mature Jane Austen. A few critical comments made during that time focused on the skill of Austen at creating character. In 1870 the most significant 19th century critical article on Austen was published by Richard Simpson. In the article Simpson discussed the complexity of Austen’s work including her use of irony. Various critics have noted that the plot development of Pride and Prejudice is determined by character where coincidence exerts a major influence but turns off action are precipitated by character. Although human weakness is a prominent element ranging from Caroline Bingley's jealous to Elizabeth's blind prejudices outright evil is little in evidence. Austen maintains an attitude of good humoured irony towards her character. During Austen's career romanticism reached its zenith of acceptance and influence, but she rejects the tenets of that movement. The romantics extols the power of feeling whereas Austen upheld there supremacy of rational faculty. Romanticism advocated abandonment of restrain, Austen was a  staunch exponent of neoclassical belief in order and discipline.
The romantics emphasized on feelings.
The romantics believed in no restrain / control. Austen believed in order and discipline.
The romantic saw in nature a transcendental power to stimulate control to the better existing order of things which they saw as essentially tragic in its existing state. Austen supported traditional values and supported traditional values and the established norms and viewed the human condition in the comic spirit.

The romantics believed in transcendental power of nature and expressed it tragically.

Austen believed in traditional values and established norms and expressed it comically.
The Romantics celebrated the natural beauty but the Austen’s dramatic technique is sparse of description of natural surroundings.

Austen's Modus operandi :

1.Not a romantic/ used realism.
2.Used humour.
3.Used irony to comment on various situation.

Characters :

Elizabeth Bennet :
An intelligent and spirited young women, who possess a keen wit and enjoys studying people's characters. Although, she initially dislikes Darcy circumstances cause her to re assess her negative impression of him and she eventually falls in love with him.

Fitzwilliam Darcy.
A wealthy proud man falls in love with Elizabeth but reveals a generous thoughtful nature beneath his somewhat stiff demeanor.

Mr. Bennet.
He is Elizabeth’s ironic and a pathetic father.

Mrs. Bennet.
She is foolish unrestrained mother of Elizabeth obsessed with finding husbands for her daughters.

Jane Bennet.
She is eldest gently kind hearted women Elizabeth's confidant. She falls in love with Bingley but conscious about revealing his feeling.

Mary Bennet.
Third daughter. She prefers reading over socializing.
Katherine (Kitty) Bennet.
Fourth daughter, she joins his sister Lydia in flirting with soldiers.

Lydia Bennet.
Immature and irresponsible youngest daughter. She runs away with Wickham.

Charles Bingley.
Good natured wealthy man.

Caroline Bingley.
Sister is Charles Bingley.

George Wickham.
Irresponsible soldier.

Lady Catherine Borough.
She is the arrogant aunt of Darcy.

Synopsis of ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

In the neighbourhood of Bennet family’s in state of Longbourn. Mr. Bingley, an attractive young bachelor with a good income has moved into the nearby manor. He falls in the love with the oldest of the five Bennet’s daughter, Jane. But his friend wealthy and aristocratic disapproves of Bingley's choice. Darcy considers the Bennet family to be socially inferior and he plots with the Bingley's sister to separate the lovers. Meanwhile, though Darcy is finding it hard to resist his own increasing attraction to Jane's younger sister, the vivacious Elizabeth. Because Mr. Bennet had no son, his state will be inherited by his nearest male relative, Mr. Collins. This pompous clergyman comes to Longbourn seeking a wife, he proposes to Elizabeth who rejects him but he winks her best friend Charlotte Lucas, a plain young women who marries Collins who escapes from Spinsterhood into a safe and secure marriage though it was loveless. The story continues with an interweaving of plots and subplots during her travels with the Gardiners. Elizabeth receives bad news from the Longbourn. The youngest Bennet girl sixteen year old Lydia has run away with Wickham. Such a scandal must disgrace the whole family and Elizabeth decides that just as a feelings towards Darcy have begun to change, any hope of renewing his proposal is lost forever. Darcy feels partially responsible for Lydia's elopement, he feels he should have warned the Bennets that Wickham once tried the same thing with Darcy’s own sister. Besides he is very much in love with Elizabeth. For her sake, he searches out the fugitive couple, makes sure that they are legally married, pays Wickhams debts and buys him a commission in the army. All this he does secretly. But though sworn to secrecy Lydia reveals Darcy's part in her rescue and Elizabeth realises at last how wrong she has been. Bingley with Darcy's encouragement proposes to Jane and is accepted. Soon Darcy makes his proposal again to Elizabeth. By now, she has been abandoned her prejudices and has subdued her pride and so they are married and all ends happily.

Themes

Pride and Prejudice contains one of the most cherished love story in English literature symbolised between Darcy and Elizabeth. As in any good love story, the lovers must elude and overcome numerous stumbling blocks, beginning with the tensions caused by the lovers caused own personal qualities. Elizabeth’s pride makes her misjudge Darcy on the basis of her first impression while Darcy's prejudice against Elizabeth’s to a poor social status blinds him to her many virtues. Darcy's and Elizabeth's realisation of a mutual tender love seems to implied at Austen views love as something independent of the social forces. She viewed love as something that can be captured only when an individual is able to escape the warping effects of hierarchical society. Austen sounds more of a realist when she uses the character of Charlott Lucas who marries the buffoon Mr. Collins for his money and demonstrates that heart does not always dictate marriage. Yet with her central characters Austen suggests that true love is a force separate from society and one that can conquer even the most difficult of circumstances.

Pride

In chapter 5 of the text, Mary Bennet, rightly says human nature is particularly prone to pride. Throughout the novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ pride prevents the characters from seeing the truth of a situation. Most notably, it is one of the two primary barrier in the way of a union between Elizabeth and Darcy. Darcy's pride in his social position leads him to scorn anyone outside his own social circle. Meanwhile Elizabeth’s pride in her power of discernment cloud her judgement. These two find happiness by helping each other overcome their pride outside of Elizabeth and Darcy, Jane Austen seems pessimistic about the human ability to conquer this character flaw. The secondary characters like Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine, Mr. Collins and Caroline Bingley remained deluded by personal pride throughout the novel.

Prejudice

Critic A Walton Litz comments “ In ‘Pride and Prejudice’, one cannot equate Darcy with Pride or Elizabeth with Prejudice. Darcy’s pride of place is founded in social prejudice while Elizabeth's initial prejudice against him is rooted in pride of her own quick perception. Both the characters’ ego drives them towards personal prejudice. Darcy has been taught to scorn anyone outside his own social circle and must overcome his prejudice in order to endure himself to Elizabeth. Similarly Elizabeth’s excessive pride in her discernment leads her to distanced from Darcy.

Depiction of women

Jane Austen is very critical of gender injustices present in 19th century. English society particularly as perpetrated by the institution of marriage. Financial security was one of the prime concerns irrespective of the age, personal quality and eligibility in a person. However in her portrayal of Elizabeth, Austen shows that women are just as intelligent and capable as their male counterparts. In the novel Elizabeth's happy ending reveals Austen's belief that women has the right to remain independent until she meets the right man.

The first sentence of the book establishes the major theme of Pride and Prejudice's Austen states “it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be want of a wife”.

This sentence introduces the theme of marriage and also introduces the tone of irony. In its basic sense irony is the use of words to express something other than, or opposite of the literal meaning. The first sentence literally means “everyone knows that a single rich man is looking for a wife.” However, relating it ironically, the sentence means :

“Everyone knows that a single rich man will be pursuit by women who want to be his wife.”

Similarly, Austen also places her characters in situations that seem to signify one thing and are later revealed to signify something else.
Irony is employed in Pride and Prejudice as the lens through which society and human nature are viewed. Through the novel, Austen studies social relationship in the limited society of a country. (Analyse character of Mr. And Mrs. Bennet, refer to the dialogues quite contrast and sarcastic ).

This gossipy small town environment is a microcosm of society at large. In discussing Darcy's proud nature Charlotte Lucas says, “his pride does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour should think highly of himself. If I may so express it. He has a right to be proud.”
Charlott's assessment of Darcy’s pride represent a perspective on wealth and privilege that was common in 19th century Britain.

The discussion between Elizabeth and Jane help us to peep into their characters. Jane is depicted as a young woman with a kind and generous heart and who is always willing to see the best in people. More spirited than her sister, Elizabeth is a sharp observer of human nature who doesn't hesitate to make judgement. She criticizes Jane for being blind to people’s flaw, and accusation which will ironic later in the novel when Elizabeth discovers her own blindness regarding appearances and prejudices.

Two features that distinguish Elizabeth from other women throughout the novel are her quick wit and her energy. In these chapters we see her display these qualities. Elizabeth exhibits a vigor and intelligence that appeals to all.

Elizabeth's wit is evident in her dialogue whether she is debating with Charlotte, the reasons for marriage or discussing with Darcy. The existence of accomplished women. We get a sense of her energy as she delivers opinions and retorts with precision and speed. Elizabeth enjoys physical activity especially walking as she walks three miles Longbourns to Netherfield to see her sister. Interestingly, the characteristics that set Elizabeth apart from other women in the novel are the very qualities that appeal to Darcy. He first notices that her face is 'rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expressions of her dark eyes'. As he listens to her conversation, Darcy is intrigued by her ability to express herself and tells her that she speaks 'with great energy'. Darcy is also drawn to Elizabeth's 'light and pleasing' and the 'easy playfulness of her manners when she walks to Netherfields. Darcy feels admiration of the brilliancy which exercise has given her complexion'. Elizabeth's appeal for Darcy becomes even more apparent in the scene in which Darcy, Miss Bingley and Elizabeth discuss the requirement of an accomplished women. In this scene however Austen gives a direct contrast between Miss Bingley and Elizabeth. While Miss Bingley agrees with everything that Darcy's says, Elizabeth counters her statement with her opposing opinion. Miss Bingley's behaviors towards Darcy makes the reader recall, the first sentence of novel.

"It is the truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife". Austen has shown how desperately the mothers of Hurtfordshire county have thrown their daughters at Bingley and made clear that Darcy is much wealthier than Bingley. The only thing saving him from match making is his reserved proud demeanor dues not put off Caroline Bingley and few other aristocratic women. Consequently for Darcy, Elizabeth forth rightness and apparent dislike of him are probably refreshing qualities in a women.

A little knowledge of 19th century society helps modern readers to understand some of ironic social commentary in this section. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurtz take great delight in ridiculing Jane and Elizabeth's relative who pseudo gentry.

Members of the land owning gentry such as Darcy or the soon to be land owning gentry such as Charles Bingley would consider those who earn their money trade to be socially inferior. Elizabeth's father is among the landlord gentry but her mother comes from a trade family consequently Jane's and Elizabeth's standing in the eyes of elitist like the Bingley sisters is diminished due to their mother's family connections.

Chapter 10-14

The arrival of Mr. Collins brings the issue of entail to the forefront and helps to readers to understand Mr. Bennet's obsession in getting her daughters married. Because Mr. Bennet has no male heir, upon his estate will go to Mr. Collins. Because Mr. Bennet has mismanaged his money, his wife and his daughters will be nearly destitude unless the Bennet girls marry. Austen remarkable develops the character of Darcy and Mr. Collins. The personalities of both men are revealed through acts like letter writing, speaking, reading. Darcy's writing style is different. He writes 'rather slowly and his letters are generally long'. These characteristics help us to understand Darcy that he likes to think about things and is cautious when making choices or decision. That is why he chooses the right word to write. By writing a long carefully worded letter to his sister Georgiana Darcy, Darcy exhibits that he cares for his sister and takes his responsibility for her seriously. This contradicts Elizabeth's perception of Darcy as cold and unfeeling.

Character of Mr. Collins

Meanwhile while Mr. Collins also writes a letter that introduces himself to all. Mr. Collins is a curious blend of arrogance and obsequiousness.

Just as their style of writing reflects different aspects of Darcy and Mr. Collins character.  So does their style of speaking. Darcy is slow to speak and speaks judiciously. Mr. Collins' speaking style is quite frivolous. Mr. Collins communicates in long convulated sentences that range from unending apologies to severe moralising.

Darcy usually requires someone to drawn him into a conversation whereas Collins needs no such invitation. Darcy's extensive library in Dimberly indicates that he enjoys books and reading. He enjoys a solitary activity of living one's social activity of cards. Collins on the other hand has no exposure to books rather than selecting something that everyone will enjoy. Mr. Collins chooses a book of sermons and reads them with very monotonous solemnity.

Chapter 15 to 18

With the introduction of Wickham the plot begins to be more complicated. The perceptive abilities of Elizabeth for Darcy and Wickham are blinded by her prejudice and she is unable to see the true nature of Darcy and Wickham. Elizabeth's prejudice stems from her first impressions of the men whereas she was repulsed by Darcy's arrogant and reserved manners surprisingly she is attracted to Wickham's happy readiness of conversation. Wickham has behaved opposite to Darcy in his first encounters with Elizabeth, appealing to her appreciation of friendly manners as well as to her pride in being the women he choose to sit with.

Consequently Elizabeth's prejudice is so strong against Darcy and against Darcy and for Wickham that she accepts a face value of things. As Wickham talks about Darcy's pride Elizabeth fails to note her own pride that lines her. Austen emphasizes a theme of prejudice as Wickham imposes his prejudice upon Elizabeth and makes her even more prejudiced against Darcy, who it is hinted is prejudiced against all people.

Note :

These chapters give us examples of the importance of manners and decorum in 19th century British Society. In this society manners are associated with social class and accordingly a person's character. For example : members of the aristocracy or lady Catherine De Borough are percieved as proud in their manners because of the high status. Where as the Bennet's sisters are found not appropriate because of their class. Austen satirizes the manners of all classes and exposes people and their nature. For example Austen uses Mr. Collins as an extreme example to show how excessive pride can affect one's manners.

Chapter 19 to 23

Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth is one of the most humorous moment of the novel. Austen has already established the absurdity in Mr. Collins speech and manners but his proposal raises him to new heights of pompous foolishness though the proposal, one can only observe the self-pride and condescension. For Mr. Collins marriage is a business transaction where as Elizabeth wants to marry for love not for convenience. Elizabeth's romantic view of marriage faces a shock when Charlotte decides to marry Mr. Collins. In seeking a love match, Elizabeth is searching for a relationship opposite to that of a parents. Het parents neither loved nor like each other which creates a fragmented household in which neither parent seems happy. Perhaps Elizabeth's objections to Charlotte's realistic perception of marriage are actually objections to her own parent's relationship. Most young women in her situation 19th century Britian might dream of marrying for security as Charlotte does.

Consequently for the Austen's readers, Elizabeth represents an ideal view of the world while Charlotte represents reality.

" She is tolerable ; but not handsome enough to tempt but I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men "

Comment on the statement with reference to Pride and Prejudice ?

Pride and Prejudice are one some of most important themes stated in the novel. Pride and Prejudice both stands in a way of relationship as embodied in the personality of Darcy and Elizabeth respectively. The characters were written to be perfect opposites because in the end both have to give up their own prejudices that prevent them from seeing how perfect they are for each other. The plot revolves around the undermining of their mutual prejudices and how each of forced to reassess their conditioning.

Darcy is forced by his besotted emotions and urges to modify his horror of Elizabeth's family and the lower status. However Darcy is mesmerized by her eyes and her carefree nature and clear sightedness. For Elizabeth the possibility of being mistress of . She begins her journey to overcome her objections. Pride narrows the vision of a person and leads to undermine the qualities of other person. Prejudice blinds the vision and leads to false perception about others. Darcy's pride and Elizabeth's prejudice come in a way of understanding each other and keep them apart. Only when Darcy becomes more humble and Elizabeth becomes more accepting can they relate to one another and find happiness together.

An understanding of Jane Austen's novels

- John Odmark.

The basis of Jane Austen's irony is usually shown to be the conflicting systems of norms and values in the world portrayed, the contrast between the author's values and those in the little country village of her setting or a combination of these possibilities. Pride and Prejudice has always been Jane Austen's most widely read novel. It differs from ' Northanger Abbey ' and ' Sense and Sensibilities '. In the increasing skill the author demonstrates in handling her narrative. And lacks the psychological depths and moral seriousness of the novels that were to follow.

Structural Irony.

More of the characters is left untouched by the irony that infuses the novel. The plot structure is obviously ironic particularly the development of the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy. When Darcy is ready to marry Elizabeth, she is not interested, when she thinks better of it, she appears to have lost interest Mrs. Bennet's ambition expressed in the opening scene to marry off her daughters well is ironically fulfilled, far as Elizabeth and Jane are concerned.

In Pride and Prejudice, irony is also used to delineate character. There are two related systems of values by which characters are judged : Social conventions and moral values. Beginning with chapter 10, much of the story is related from Elizabeth's perspective. But she is just as capable of erring as are the other characters in novel. However there is one kind of error she does not make Elizabeth never fails to distinguish and an ethical mistake. This moral blindness on the part of some individuals is brought out for example in the scene where Elizabeth decides to visit the sisters who has fallen ill, those who take cognisance of Elizabeth action are quite appalled. By her disregard of what is considered proper social conduct. To sight a second example, Wickham's force marriage to Lydia may satisfy social convention and overjoy Mrs. Bennet but the moral issue is not easily done away with.

In rendering character, Jane Austen often uses manners to mirror morals. The portrayal of Mr. Collins is an exception. His obsequiousness is unmistakeable and it reflects his total lack of a sense of what is correct and proper. But the portrayal of the other characters is less obvious.

For example : Wickham deceives Elizabeth with his ability to assume good manners and art of integrity. Here her air of judgement points up the fundamental problem with which she and the reader are confronted. The accurate evaluation of an individuals manners are a means of discovering his moral character. In fact much of the irony in this novel derives from the mistaken judgements made in evaluating the significance of an individual's conduct. And more generally it derives from the characters frequent inability to communicate effectively with one another. (give example. Elizabeth and Darcy interacts )

The action in fact turns on the misunderstanding than exist not only for the characters involved but also for the reader as well. For the reader the ironic implications become clear in retrospect. The main reason for this is reader's closeness to Elizabeth, most of the story is presented with her angle of vision. This encourages the tendency to accept her judgements uncritically. A second reason is a fact that although much of the story is related from Elizabeth's perspective, her own mental life is kept at distance from the reader. Even Darcy is seen for the most part from Elizabeth's point of view. For the first time in Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen succeeds in coordinating the local and structural ironies : the ironies governing the organisation of the plot derived from the ironies developed in the rendering of individual scenes and characters.

That Long Silence ( Anita Ma'am )

THAT LONG SILENCE

Part-I starts with a reflection that highlights protagonist’s present state of mind. Jaya wants to be a writer, not just the one meant for women’s journal. She had already gained a little fame as a typical women writer who wrote about girls destined to be mated themselves with the right men, that was not the real picture of life she now admits. And yet she projected that picture, because she was afraid to face the disturbances caused by the genuine pictures of life.

The novel displays the process of Jaya’s self analysis and self recognition that help her to immerse from her cosy corner that she had so longer preferred the reality. As she reflects “Self revelation is a cruel  process. Looking for it is as bewildering as trying to know how you really look. Ten different mirrors show you ten different faces.” She knows that in order to be a successful writer, she has to detach her experience from her awareness of that experience, and then it may be possible for her to render a real picture of life.
She equates the process to that of childbirth when one is afraid because one has to loose control over one’s body. In her attempt to write about her married life too, Jaya is afraid and feels like loosing control over her. She is also puzzled to find out how much of the facts of her life would be relevant in the long time. She remembers how she once reduced her bio-data to three lines recording her birth, her father’s death, the birth of two children and the abortion of the third.

The second section of part-I starts with a reflection on the pseudo-puritanism of the time after Gandhi’s death. Jaya recalls how his father despise her addiction to film song “ that disgusting mush” he would call and had tried his best to wean her from the habit of listening to Rafi and Lata and to make her love palushkar and fayaz khan instead. The shame that she felt then survived long. While going to cinema hall, she was afraid to tell Mohan that she likes to see from the very beginning not missing the ads, lest she being ridiculed but she tried frantically to get their on time. Getting the kids ready for going out. That she developed a detached view of life its clear from her recollection. Remembrances of the past are followed by the description of Jaya's arrival at the Dadar flat ten days ago and the reason behind that coming is exposed, gradually through several recollections. Jaya recalls how she desired a catastrophe not of course a personal one in order to get relieved of the boredom and monotony of life. But it was beyond her imagination that her long cherish longing for disaster would come true in the form of her husband being entangled in a scam case that he would be on the verge of loosing his job, bringing an unimaginable hardship to all in the family.

Coming back from the world of the past Jaya ventures to describe their arrival in the Dadar flat, an incident that took place seven days ago. The image of the bullocks yoked together not only suggests compulsion and relationship to be mechanical but also the silence that they have maintained so long. Keeping her detached from the scene, Jaya tries to describe how she and Mohan climbed the dingy stair of drab building in the heart of Bombay, met the maid servant Nayana and how ignoring Mohan the woman unlocked the door. At this point she recognizes the fact that she and Mohan are two persons having distinctness of their own and not just two bullocks yoked together. Mohan is by nature indifferent to others and now fear has been added to his indifference, leaving him a sad, obsessed man reconciled to failure, almost resembling a character in Graham Greene’s stories. Criticizing herself honestly Jaya comes to the conclusion that she has been continuing the guerrilla warfare. For many years, offering shuttle resistance to Mohan and it was often through silence.

Now that Jaya has left behind Suhasini, she is able to criticise the type of Suhasini as being selfish and creul. She equates Suhasini to the sparrow in the bed time story. The crow waiting for a long time and finally when it lets the crow in, it advises the crow to warm itself on the hot pan and was burnt to death. Jaya was horrified with the sadistic tale that was told to children. Later she found that the story carried a dreadful moral, the survival is the sparrow who is cautious, self centered, wise, dutiful and true. In the guise of providing sympathy and shelter, the sparrow kills the crow. And it does all this for its safety and security. Surprisingly, the victim in the story, the crow is a male and the victor sparrow a female. But Deshpande wants to show that the sparrow is the ultimate loser, because there is no such thing as safety and the female cannot be safe even if she is devoid of all moral values for the sake of maintaining her family safe.

Equating Suhasini to the sparrow in the story, the writer lays bare the inhumanity and deceitfulness of the traditional role of a women as a mother and a housewife, a role glorified by the society and accepted by the gullible women folk.
“I have a feeling that even if little boys can forget this story, little girls never will. They will store this story in their subconscious, their unconscious or whatever and eventually they will become that damnably insufferably triggish  sparrow looking after their homes, their babies....and to help with the rest of the world and you are safe”

The story behind the equation of the sparrow in the story and a women like Suhasini are gradually revealed through Jaya's recollection. She recalls the unfortunate women Kusum, a distant relation of hers, whom she sheltered in the Dadar flat despite Morgan’s antipathy towards her. The children had always been their final argument, their justification for everything and Jaya was defeated but she argued that Kusum should be kept in a Dadar flat, away from her children and Kusum began to stay there despite Mohan’s contempt. Not only Mohan but also Jaya's two brothers and her mother opposed the idea of taking Museum’s responsibility, yet, Jaya struck to her decision though her sincerity could not save the poor women who was reported to have committed suicide. Jaya’s silent struggle against the limitation imposed on her by the husband and members of her family is recalled by her. She is also aware that such scattered cases of silent revolt are not enough for asserting her individuality. She began to prepare herself internally for making a fresh ground as a writer.

It is curious to note that despite the feeling of uneasiness attached to suffering Jaya has a sense of freedom that she has nothing to cleanse or to arrange in the household stop the monsters that ruled our life so long, gadgets that had be kept in order, the glassware that had sparkled the furniture, that had to be kept spotless and dust free have now banished leaving her enough time to be with. She is surprised that she thinks of them in terms of monster for it was she who hankered about these objects. The facts becomes clear to her that she would not choose for herself, but only made her fit for the kind of life Mohan wanted to live and that too in an unconscious way without analyzing herself to know if she had desired any other more of existence. This time also when she feels free she does not know what she wants. She only knows that the barrenness and ugliness of the place pleased her more than their carefully furnished home in Churchgate and that she had a queer sense of homecoming. When she enters a flat with Mohan this sense implies that her effort to run a happy family were not promoted by her genuine will. It was her surrounding her society that moulded her thoughts rendering her unable to exercise her free will. Her sense of freedom in the Dadar flat is a step towards her self-recognition.

The technique of revealing the past through association is used again when Jaya feels as if she were in Saptagiri's Ajji's takes her back to her childhood plays when she would go to Saptagiri’s her father’s ancestral home Saptagiri Ajji's was a representative of a traditional Hindu widow observing tenitence. She denuded herself of all those things that make up women's life. She had no possession except two saris, she wore. She could sit on bare ground and slept on her straw mat at night. The reconciliation of Saptagiri’s Ajji's remark that Jaya would be a disturbing factor for her husband because of her nature. She had question for everything and also retort for everything. Analysing her present predicament, she says that she has neither any question nor any retort for Mohan now and yet there is no comfort.

Jaya's experience in the Dadar flat is like going back to his childhood days of 'keeping house'. She used to play in Saptagiri's Ajji's house along with her cousins. While Jaya is content in keeping house in Dadar flat, Mohan prowls restlessly about the house unable to sit down in one place. The waiting is getting endowed. Jaya reflects that it is really hard for Mohan to wait as he has never been used to it. She also notes a subtle difference between a man's approach to waiting and women's.
"He did not know what waiting was, he had always moved steadily from one moment to the next. But for women, the waiting game starts early in childhood. Wait until you get married, wait till your husband comes, wait until you go into your in-laws home, wait until you have kids."

For Jaya's, a waiting for disaster has been added to all these. She developed the belief that she cannot escape that disaster for long, that she must face it someday when Mohan told her of all the equations against him. Jaya felt that her waiting disaster come to its end. Unlike Jaya, Mohan had no belief in disaster. He tried to disown his responsibility and even justified his taking black money on the plea that no one can live just on salary.

The third part starts with a conversation between Ravi and Jaya who is trying the best to give a impression that every thing is going well with her family lest there be any suspicion in Ravi's mind with regard to Mohan's career. Ravi's pre wells up her childhood memories affecting her emotions. But he says that their mother complain about rare visits to Ambegaon to see her mother, uncle and aunt. Jaya is angry as she remembers the old stories of Chandu mama's financing her college views after her father's death. She has always tried to ignore the fact but at the same time cannot altogether neglect the three bold persons. She also expresses her anger when Ravi makes fun with the feminine desire of motherhood. While referring to Vanitamami, Jaya takes the responsibility of contacting the nurse known to them for Vanitamami's treatment and of bringing her mother and Vanitamami to her place in Bombay. Ravi expresses his inability to take them to his home as his wife Asha has gone to her father's place.

Ravi also asks Jaya to take initiative in settling up their conjugal quarrel. It is also revealed that Ravi heard about Mohan's trouble in office and even proposes Jaya to lend a helping hand through a political leader. Jaya however shows a common sense through her denial of any trouble. The strange relationship of Ravi and Asha reminds her naturally of the past days when Asha was pampered for her wealth and beauty.

With Deshpande the stream of consciousness technique is no more a strenuous effort on the part of the reader to follow the track of the protagonist thought process. The process is spontaneous and hence is quite natural. Jaya's sojourn in the past is this naturally disturbed by Mohan's enquiring about Ravi's intention. Jaya tells him that Ravi was enquiring about the trouble in Mohan's office and Mohan is naturally upset, that this scam has been disclosed. Jaya sees Mohan unmasked now, as he overtakes her with his repeated queries about what exactly Ravi has known. Mohan's concern leaves him almost a fanatic and he charges Jaya with total concerned in his problem. He even brings the accusation that Jaya's only concern has always been the comfort supplied by Mohan; though she hardly bothers about Mohan's problem in the office. Mohan takes accusation directly hers to the past days, leaving angry confusion.

Jaya feels that Mohan has armed himself with an anger and hostility underneath. He accuses her for not taking care about the children of isolating herself from the family and her over feeble defences fierce onslaught. She feels as if she has been struck down, pinned to her own place by his anger like a huge spear going through her and get living her fully conscious. He further says that all women are alike and there on Jaya interrupts with her question if he knows what type of women she is. As Mohan goes on describing in a changed tone that he has not failed to note her changes after they came to the Dadar flat. Jaya notes het childlike confusion in her face and just cannot check her hysteric laughter. Mohan stares at her in horror and then leaves home.

The fourth part of the novel shows no change in the setting. Jaya is still alone in her Dadar flat as Mohan has not come yet. But she has little time now for idle brooding. She goes to the hospital to arrange treatment for Raja Ram, the stepson of the maid Jeeja. Jaya visits the doctor on duty and luckily he happens to be her elder brother's friend, doctor Vyas. He answers that he will do whatever is needed. Jaya in this episode seems to move out from her own centralized position and help others unlike the sparrow hinting her emancipation from orthodox norms of aligning oneself to family concerns only. Jaya goes to their ChurchGate apartment, perhaps she expected Mohan to be there and gets a bit disappointed when she finds the house empty. A matter of concern has been waiting for her. Servants from the neighbouring household informs her that their phone was ringing continuously. No sooner the servants inform her, than the phone starts ringing again. She is horrified to hear the voice of her friend Rupa, who took Jaya's children with her on a family tour. Rahul has gone away without telling them anything. The sun going away points out the generation gap and the clash of different ideologies, which was not worked out by the parents. Jaya is left in horrified state and a relief only comes when Vasant informs her through the phone that Rahul is with him.

With so many confusing incidents, Jaya starts for the Daddar flat and waits under a bus shade. She notices two young man and a girl in objectionable posture and cannot resist shouting at them. The contempt of Jaya which was subdued and defined as not being womanly is poured out here implying her realself the bold Jaya, intolerant to something, wrong is now emerging. She reaches the flat somehow in an unconscious state suffering from high fever as Jaya comes to her senses and feels little better, she finds Mukta accompanying her. While answering Mukta's query, Jaya confesses that perhaps Mohan has left her. There in Mukta asks her if it is for Kamat. Surprised, Jaya tells her that Kamat has nothing to do in her case. Mukta then accuses Jaya of leaving die Kamat alone in his room. A new vista is opened up before her eyes. Her newly acquired knowledge about Kamat and Mukta helps her to recognize her own self too :

The loneliness of a man facing his death - Is their anything like it in this world ? His pain filled this room and we could both of us feel it. Mukta and I. The fellowship of pain seemed to bind us together. We were like two patients in a hospital suffering from the same disease lying on two adjacent beds.

At the end of the novel Rahul returns accompanied by Vasant and there is also Mohan's telegram saying all well. These outward facts are perfectly blended with the dimensional depth of Jaya's consciousness. Flashbacks are extensively used to trace the evolution of Jaya's consciousness and to show how she emerges as a writer who is true to her self. The process of her self realisation being complete, she goes back to the papers, in which she has been scribbling. She reflects on her frightened and desperate self, which is now subdued by her fearless spirit. She feels that the panic is gone. Earlier she thought that she must survive only as Mohan's wife and that the bids of herself that refused to be Mohan's wife must be cut-off. Now she understands that this kind of fragmentation is not possible. She recalls Daniel De words that :

" Fiction is a sort of lying that makes a great hole in the heart at which by degrees a habit of lying enters in."

Jaya likes little bits of fiction but cannot think of leaving a hole in heart. She now rejects the image of two bullocks yorked together for this doesn't give a real picture. In order to plug that hole in the heart she has to erase the silence between them. Deshpande's unique narrative skill blends the interior monologue with the ebb and flow of outward incidents including dialogue among several characters. The novel strength lies in its capacity to capture the reader's attention through a spell of narration.

Identity

The focus in the novel's Shashi Deshpande is on the urban middle-class women. Her novels raises questions such as what is a women's place at home and in society ? What is the attitude of the society towards her ? And why the protagonist seek answer to these questions, they also begin to search for their own identities. Deshpande Sahitya Award winning novel That Long Silence voices the anguish and conflict of the modern educated Indian women fought between patriarchy and tradition on the one hand and self-expression on the other. G. S. Armour points out in the Preface to the Legacy And Other Stories ( 1978 ) to find her identity as wife, mother and most important of all, as human being is. Shashi Deshpande's major concern as a creative writer and this appears in all her important stories.

Deshpande's other novels such as Roots and Shadows, The Dark Holds No Terror, The Binding Vine, presents her heroine's struggle to find their voice and continuously search to define themselves in a male dominated society where she is expected to be passive and unresponsive. The Androcentric Indian society pushes the women to the margin and she has to find her place and identity by fighting against the old established prejudices.

Women has a social category is culturally conditioned and constructed. Jaya had a completely different upbringing in her girlhood in comparison to the protagonist of the Shashi Deshpande's previous novel like Saru in The Dark Holds No Terror and Indu in Roots and Shadows. Her position and provisions were kept at par with the boys of the family. She was provided good education but she was not kept away from being imparted the knowledge of a patriarchal setup and the startups of a women in the domestic ambience. She was aware and sure that the marriage only was her destiny and future. Vanitamami's advice given Jaya before her marriage reflects the Indian Society being conditioned and the stark reality of women as a subjugated self.

" If your husband has a mistress or two. Ignore it. Take up a hobby instead, cats, baby or your sister's children. "

She said "A husband is like a sheltering tree, implying Jaya would have no identity of her own after her marriage. She would be recognized by her husband's name so she had to "keep the tree alive and flourishing even if she had to water or with deceit and lies".

A sheltering tree could provide meaning and magnitude in her life, otherwise her life would be dangerously unprotected and vulnerable.

In Indian patriarchal society there is no identity for a women. Manusmrit was the earliest which dealt with the social philosophy to perpetuate a dependent role for women. She must be kept in dependence by the male of their families. Her father protects her in childhood, her husband protects her in youth and her son protects her in old age. A women is never fit for independence according to Simone De Beauvoir : women is the other, she is seen only as a sexual entity and this limits the position of a women.

After Jaya's marriage to Mohan, the husband had taken it for granted that her wife should acquiesce and follow his thoughts and principles unquestionably. The early age of her marriage amazed Jaya for having unrestricted physical contact which was devoid of real love. Despite her marriage to Mohan and subsequently becoming a mother of two children, she lacks the respect and understanding from the husband. Deshpande uses a beautiful image to describe Jaya's married life.

" A pair of bullock yoked together. "

The bullocks so yoked shared the burden between themselves but no one knows whether they love each other or not. The image of the beast performing the duties mechanically undermines the husband wife relationship, who are supposed to be united in marriage for love and not for lending a mechanical life terminating into mutual hatred and distrust. Jaya resents the role assigned to a wife, when she is called upon to start at home, look after the babies and keep out the rest of the world. She becomes 'damnably insufferably priggish sparrow' appropriating herself to a new role of Suhasini, a placid and docile women.

Jaya learns to suppress her own wishes and act according to her husband's. She, for example likes to see advertisements that precede a movie show for they give her "an illusion of happiness" yet her husband does not like them, they start late.  Over the years, she shapes herself to his desire that in the end she is left with no identity of her own, just emptiness and silence. However, it is Mohan who has a clear idea of what he wants to lead, the kind of home he would live in but Jaya is vague and non-committal. She says :

"to know what you want...I have been denied that"

It is also this self of Jaya which seeks to create a private life of her own. She does not have a well defined career, but she is a successful columnist and an aspiring writer of fiction. On her husband's suggestion she takes up writing her light humorous pieces about the travails of a middle class housewife called Sita are quite popular. This however does not give Jaya much happiness. She is an intense, thinking women eager to probe the meaning of marriage and love and of life itself. In fact she considers such writing as merely a firm of escape, a creeping into a safe  hole. She longs to confront life directly through her fiction and she had made a good start too. Her story about a man "who could not reach out to his wife except through her body" was seen as an honest probing into life and even one apprised for its authentic depiction yet her husband had been much hurt by the story who believed that it was a literal presentation of their own married life. Feeling quietly and ashamed, she had stopped writing and turned to frivolous pieces, such as Sita stories yet. She continues with her guerrilla warfare and keeps writing serious stories and sending them to magazines.

One of them is about a child widow based on  an actual story narrated to her by her father. She was humiliated in public because she hadn't shaven her head. They called her a 'whore', a fact which arouses Jaya's indignation and impels her to write a story. The story get rejected and Kamat tells Jaya what was wrong with it.

"its too restrain spew your anger in your writing women spew it out, why are you holding it in ?"

The irony has been that she can't belonging as she does to tradition bound culture. A women can never be angry says Jaya, she can only be neurotic, hysterical, frustrated. There is no room for anger in my life.

Understanding and growth of an individual lies in the domain of a true companionship. Mohan fails to offer any of it. He either provides any encouragement nor celebrates their relation. It is Kamat who treats her as an equal, is considerate and attentive. Jaya says "with this man I had not been a women. I had been just myself - Jaya". It is ironical that the friendship intentutive understanding which should be provided by her husband is extended by Kamat. Jaya's association with Kamat could be a kind of repressed desire which she yearns for, a relationship warm and friendly where she could exchange ideas, could express herself and feel free to be her ownself.

It is also in the Dadar flat that she tries to gain her original position, an individual quite independent in nature. The new setting instills a new setting a new confidence in her. Her refusal to give Mohan the keys of the Dadar flat a symbolic of the shuttle change in thir relation. In the changing circumstances, she refuses to be servile and opens the door herself. Her ruthless introspection makes her conscious of her reduced objectified position with no shame, no form of her own. Looking for it is as bewildering as trying to knock how you really look. Ten different mirrors show you ten different faces.

The traditional role model archetypes of Sita and Gandhari seem to fade away as she is able to distance herself from Suhasini, who seems like a stranger to her now. Her decision to give up writing Sita stories is a step towards a new individuality. The myth of Maitri who refuses husband’s of property and wants immortality, is a challenge to the male domination of sainthood and scholarship and provides a framework to the struggle of Jaya.

Deshpande, with her pragmatism as well as her traditional middle class background, does not take rebellion against a male dominated world to the bitter end. She feels along with the Apostle Paul, marriage may not offer the best of all possible worlds to a man and a woman, yet in the present dispensation, it is more or less essential and must be made to work, for neither a man nor a woman is complete in himself or herself. Both biologically and emotionally, need each other and if they can develop a measure of harmony in their relation, so much the better. Even Jaya begins to realise this and anxiously awaits the return of Mohan.

Deshpande makes us hope that a slightly different Jaya will return since she will make adjustments, but they will not be servile once. She rejects the image of two bullocks yoked together. Now she has belief in herself, she can choose the intense searching of the self has brought knowledge of life which cannot leaved in a vacuum. She realises that she too was responsible for her victimisation. Deshpande invokes the Bhagwat Gita and refers to Arjun’s knowledge imparted to him by Lord Krishna, “Do as you desire”. She must now exercise her choice and give up using Prakrit the language of the downtrodden. Women must assert and change themselves and hope that men will change too. ‘Its possible that we may not change even over a long periods of time but we can always hope without that life would be impossible and if there is anything I know now, it is this life has always to be made possible’.




THAT LONG SILENCE AS AN INDIAN NOVEL

That Long Silence is an Indian Novel not only because its setting is Indian Metropolis (Bombay). And its characters are typical indian, but also because the essence of indian thought and philosophy is introduced through its protagonist through a long interior monologue that blurs the distinction between past and present. Jay projects herself in four different roles. All these roles refers to the indian classics and myths, the role of Sita ( in the Ramayana), of Draupadi (in the Mahabharata), of the Gandhari ( in the Mahabharata), of Maitri (in the Upanishad).


Jaya starts with the role of Sita, the wife of Shree Ram who in all ways had been accepted as a model wife in the indian society. Jaya’s playing the role of Sita serves a double purpose at the home. The role of Sita is appreciated by her husband and her relatives, and Jaya receives applause and also a sense of security. As per her career the role of Sita helps her find a corner in a women’s magazine to which she regularly contributed much to the satisfaction of Mohan. The role of Sita demands sacrifice, Jaya had to sacrifice her individuality and had to mould herself. As per Mohan’s desire she cut her long hairs, did not go out for a job and among many other thing ceased to be self conscious writer with an urge for exposing reality. She later tried to give Mohan a list occasions when she was subdued.

"The job I wanted to take, the baby I wanted to adopt, the anti price campaign I wanted to take part in ....but even as I listed these to myself, it came to me that perhaps it had nothing to do with Mohan, the fact that I had not done these things, that I had left them alone perhaps I had not really cared enough about these things myself. Instead I said, and my voices sullen even to me, I have done everything you wanted to me."

Jaya's approach reveals a typical Indian attitude when a Hindu girl marries, she knows that it is a bondage souls and she is expected to merge her will in the will of her husband. Jaya tried to do what exactly she was expected by the husband as well as the society. The feminist critics would interpret such passages as compromising any of the ages from Jaya's list would have provoked the feminist to stand campaign against the suppression of women in the andro-centric society. Jaya did not do show as she had embraced the Indian tradition consciously and followed the path of the Indian philosophy which put am emphasis on consciousness. Deshpande therefore chooses a course of the rigorous process of self realization for her protagonist. The change in Jaya's role as Sita was all a pervasive. She accepted Mohan as her profession, and her means of livelihood. His approval seem to be the most important thing for her life as it was for the Sita in the ancient days. In the modern context, Jaya had also followed the advice of the fashion magazines in order to be the follower of her husband. She finds in retrospect :

"There had been time - it came back to me when I had so faithfully followed all the edicts laid down by the women's magazine. They had been my bible, and I would quote over the wisdom contained in them. Don't let yourself go. How to keep your husband in love with you. Keep romance alive in a marriage. The quality of charm in a women"

Jaya simultaneously also takes the role of Gandhari; the mother of one hundred Kaurvas and the wife of blind king Dhritharashtra. Since the day of her marriage, Gandhari had used a covering on her eyes so that she might be denied eyesight like her husband. Dritharashtra loss of physical eyesight was also accompanied by his moral blindness. His love for his children also made him blind to their faults. Gandhari feigned blindness also kept her unaware of the criminal acts committed by the son and supported by the husband. She just did not exercise her knowledge of good and evil. Almost in the way Gandhari chose to remain blind. Jaya also posed to be blind, not bothering about the ways adopted by Mohan forgetting a better quarter and then a transfer to Bombay.

Jaya says :

"Mohan had managed to get the job. I never asked him how he did it. If Gandhari bandaged her eyes to become blind like her husband, could be called an ideal wife, I was an ideal wife too. I bandaged my eyes tightly. I didn't want to know anything. It was enough for me that we moved to Bombay that could send Rahul and Rati to school that I could have the things we needed..."

Jaya in modern context plays Gandhari, without bothering about the moral good and evil. She ceased to be an individual who exercises her power of power of discrimination between the good and the evil. Only when, Mohan brought the accusation, Jaya was crestfallen. She had never imagined that she would have to take responsibility of Mohan's misdeeds. There was also a side role, that of Draupadi who merged with the role of Sita, when Jaya followed in the Dadar flat. When their husbands were in trouble, both Sita and Draupadi followed them in exile. Almost in the same way Jaya followed Mohan.

Jaya's self analysis is revealed to her that she could very well take the role of Maitri who rejected her husband's wealth on the ground that wealth would not lead to immortality. The fact is that Jaya was not prepared for making a choice of her own. It requires moral courage and a total hold on oneself when one makes a free choice. Jaya was lacking in both hence only a passive role could suit her. In her introspection in the Dadar's flat :

"The truth is that it was Mohan who had a clear ideas of what he wanted to know what you want. I have been denied that"

The idea of immortality suggested by Maitri still appeared crazy to Jaya but when her self scrutiny was compelled Jaya a courage to choose the course of her life. She is prepared for taking up the role of Maitri who dared to question the husband indicating that Jaya too would break the silence. She also understands the false idea to remain safe forever. Mohan's alleged malpractice, fear of being sacked had shaken Jaya's sense of safety and eventually Mohan's accusation brought on her the shattered illusion that Jaya had been maintaining so long. The roles of Sita and Gandhari did not fit in her changed  sensibilities. The only role available to her is that of Maitri who did not require her husband's wealth either.

At the last stage Jaya is reminded her of her remark of Sri Krishna in Bhagwad Gita on the battle field of Kurukshetra. Shri Krishna told Arjun all about the different ways of worship and about the illusionary views of life. He told Arjun that he himself would have to make his choice 'Yathaecchasi Tatha Kuru' do as you desire. It is now when Jaya feels the implication of Arjun's remark but now I understand with this line after those millions of words of instruction Krishna confers humanness on Arjun.

"I have given you knowledge. Now you make the choices, the choice is yours. Do as you desire."

It becomes clear to Jaya that in order to assert her individuality she is to make a choice of her own. Her newly realised self can no more play the role of unquestioning Sita. Mohan will be back, all well, his telegram says. Does he mean by this that we will go back to being as we were...but it is no longer possibility. I will have to erase the silence between us...I learnt with a sense of outrage that its rigid rules ( sanskrit drama ) did not permit women  characters to speak Sanskrit. They had to use Prakrit, a language that had sounded to my ears like a babies lisp. The anger I felt then comes back to me when I realise what I have been speaking Prakrit myself.

The entire process of Jaya's self realisation and her final choice that she would no more accept the term on life imposed on her but will argue at every point out the outcome of her realising the essence of the Indian Classics and religious scriptures that is why Jaya cannot be angry with anybody. If she would have acquired sufficient self knowledge beforehand and would not bother about her safety she could not be subdued by anybody. With this knowledge she cannot forgive herself and therefore stops blaming others.

Shashi Deshpande's insight into the complex texture of Indian ( Hindu Society ) is clear from her novel. She notes the existence of two simultaneous trend that had been prevailing in the Indian society since the days of the Puranas. There is a long tradition of worshipping goddess, and also the tradition denying the human status to women again, women are not treated equally under the same roof. In a family, the mother figure may be all powerful while her daughter in law are humiliated. Such keen observation of reality enable Deshpande to develop an unbiased view of the situation. The novel exposes her belief are the women themselves are not less responsible than men for their sufferings. This belief held her from being a radical feminist. In fact, Indian soil is not fit for the kind of protest, one finds in western novels. Both men and women in India have to broaden their consciousness to criticise their own feeling and attitudes in order to give equal status to women. Deshpande realised this and expressed it in her novel.