Dialogue: A Journal Devoted to Literary Appreciation, 2022
Jane Austen's novels Pride and Prejudice and Emma present heroines who have their own ideas of id... more Jane Austen's novels Pride and Prejudice and Emma present heroines who have their own ideas of identity making: one of them chooses to stay away from the marriage market entirely, while the other acts in a matron/chaperone like fashion, projecting herself as existing outside the norm. This paper focuses on this aspect of identity making in both these novels. Apart from this, in Pride and Prejudice, men like Darcy, Bingley, Wickham and Fitzwilliam are reduced to mere commodities while the women are customers, evaluating them to no end. Emma of Emma views men in the same manner, trying to arrange matches between the elusive Weston and her governess or looking for a suitable costumer for Mr Elton, who has “fitted up his house so comfortably” (Austen, Emma 7) but can find “nobody in Highbury who deserves him” (ibid). This paper is therefore a rereading that argues that the narrative presents the men, instead of women, in the novel as commodities (taking recourse to Irigaray's concept of women-as- commodities) that have no voice or opinion of their own, and who in fact spend their time pleasing women around them and exhibiting their traits and position in society, in order to be seen as eligible.
This paper examines the two Words prevalent in Jane Austen’s novella, Lady Susan, where one tries... more This paper examines the two Words prevalent in Jane Austen’s novella, Lady Susan, where one tries to gain dominance over the other. It is unclear as to which one is stronger, since Lady Susan experiences defeat only when dragged into the discourse of Mrs Vernon, i.e. the discourse of the phallocratic order, which very predictably puts her at a disadvantage. It is explored whether her words present Lady Susan to the reader as a villain and whether the word of Mrs Vernon is more reliable than that of Lady Susan’s. Lady Susan’s precarious position in the society and her tendency to act in her self-interest has led to her character being categorised as the ‘Merry Widow’ bearing the brunt of all the evil in the novella, which may not necessarily be true.
Yearly Shakespeare, Sri Aurobindo Study Centre Santiniketan, 2021
There has never been a lack of research in Austen studies when it comes to either exploring allus... more There has never been a lack of research in Austen studies when it comes to either exploring allusions to Shakespeare, drawing parallels between their characters and the narrative style or comparing their groundbreaking status in popular culture. In this paper, I draw an unusual parallel between Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Jane Austen’s Anne Elliot of Persuasion. Dissatisfied with the present authority, both the characters believe themselves to be the rightful heir to the legacy of their parents. However, due to a prevailing sense of loss, lack of power and a strong sense of moral consciousness, they are unable to assume responsibility of their households. All their deceased parents leave behind is a legacy of grief and suffering.
Having personally met the author, Shekhar Joshi, I felt his strong sense of allegiance towards th... more Having personally met the author, Shekhar Joshi, I felt his strong sense of allegiance towards the Pahadi community and a nostalgia that my generation does not possess from having lived in the hills. The first story that I ever read by him was ‘Dajyu’ which resonated with me so deeply that I knew I had to read more of his work. His themes such as nostalgia for a life lived in the hills, the disavowal of their native roots by second and third generation migrants, the sense of community in the natives and lack thereof outside the state are so vividly and realistically sketched in his stories that he has often been called the Thomas Hardy of Uttarakhand literature. I chose his story, Chhote Sheher ke Bade Log because of its simple and sincere approach towards story telling. It is honest in its intention- it aims to portray camaraderie in a small and closely knit community. The conclusion of the story immediately strikes the reader’s heart and enables them to see exactly why the author entitles his work- Chhote Sheher Ke Bade Log (The Noble People of a Small Town).
Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics, 2023
A nger is hardly a new concept in the academia. It has been observed how male artists and scholar... more A nger is hardly a new concept in the academia. It has been observed how male artists and scholars have, through the ages, wielded the power of their overflowing metaphorical pen, trying to sublimate the overwhelming beauty of nature or the chaos of the urban landscape, and by extension...
Distance Education, although revolutionary in its own right, remains an incomplete experience. Wi... more Distance Education, although revolutionary in its own right, remains an incomplete experience. With the inclusion of Virtual Reality, Distance Learning becomes much more wholesome and lucrative. Higher Education especially has been embracing the opportunities that Virtual Learning has presented to its learners. Virtual Schools to the Management itself. The learning style agrees with the current generation, even though on the whole Virtual Learning methods have failed to realize their complete potential.
Dialogue: A Journal Devoted to Literary Appreciation, 2022
Jane Austen's novels Pride and Prejudice and Emma present heroines who have their own ideas of id... more Jane Austen's novels Pride and Prejudice and Emma present heroines who have their own ideas of identity making: one of them chooses to stay away from the marriage market entirely, while the other acts in a matron/chaperone like fashion, projecting herself as existing outside the norm. This paper focuses on this aspect of identity making in both these novels. Apart from this, in Pride and Prejudice, men like Darcy, Bingley, Wickham and Fitzwilliam are reduced to mere commodities while the women are customers, evaluating them to no end. Emma of Emma views men in the same manner, trying to arrange matches between the elusive Weston and her governess or looking for a suitable costumer for Mr Elton, who has “fitted up his house so comfortably” (Austen, Emma 7) but can find “nobody in Highbury who deserves him” (ibid). This paper is therefore a rereading that argues that the narrative presents the men, instead of women, in the novel as commodities (taking recourse to Irigaray's concept of women-as- commodities) that have no voice or opinion of their own, and who in fact spend their time pleasing women around them and exhibiting their traits and position in society, in order to be seen as eligible.
This paper examines the two Words prevalent in Jane Austen’s novella, Lady Susan, where one tries... more This paper examines the two Words prevalent in Jane Austen’s novella, Lady Susan, where one tries to gain dominance over the other. It is unclear as to which one is stronger, since Lady Susan experiences defeat only when dragged into the discourse of Mrs Vernon, i.e. the discourse of the phallocratic order, which very predictably puts her at a disadvantage. It is explored whether her words present Lady Susan to the reader as a villain and whether the word of Mrs Vernon is more reliable than that of Lady Susan’s. Lady Susan’s precarious position in the society and her tendency to act in her self-interest has led to her character being categorised as the ‘Merry Widow’ bearing the brunt of all the evil in the novella, which may not necessarily be true.
Yearly Shakespeare, Sri Aurobindo Study Centre Santiniketan, 2021
There has never been a lack of research in Austen studies when it comes to either exploring allus... more There has never been a lack of research in Austen studies when it comes to either exploring allusions to Shakespeare, drawing parallels between their characters and the narrative style or comparing their groundbreaking status in popular culture. In this paper, I draw an unusual parallel between Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Jane Austen’s Anne Elliot of Persuasion. Dissatisfied with the present authority, both the characters believe themselves to be the rightful heir to the legacy of their parents. However, due to a prevailing sense of loss, lack of power and a strong sense of moral consciousness, they are unable to assume responsibility of their households. All their deceased parents leave behind is a legacy of grief and suffering.
Having personally met the author, Shekhar Joshi, I felt his strong sense of allegiance towards th... more Having personally met the author, Shekhar Joshi, I felt his strong sense of allegiance towards the Pahadi community and a nostalgia that my generation does not possess from having lived in the hills. The first story that I ever read by him was ‘Dajyu’ which resonated with me so deeply that I knew I had to read more of his work. His themes such as nostalgia for a life lived in the hills, the disavowal of their native roots by second and third generation migrants, the sense of community in the natives and lack thereof outside the state are so vividly and realistically sketched in his stories that he has often been called the Thomas Hardy of Uttarakhand literature. I chose his story, Chhote Sheher ke Bade Log because of its simple and sincere approach towards story telling. It is honest in its intention- it aims to portray camaraderie in a small and closely knit community. The conclusion of the story immediately strikes the reader’s heart and enables them to see exactly why the author entitles his work- Chhote Sheher Ke Bade Log (The Noble People of a Small Town).
Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics, 2023
A nger is hardly a new concept in the academia. It has been observed how male artists and scholar... more A nger is hardly a new concept in the academia. It has been observed how male artists and scholars have, through the ages, wielded the power of their overflowing metaphorical pen, trying to sublimate the overwhelming beauty of nature or the chaos of the urban landscape, and by extension...
Distance Education, although revolutionary in its own right, remains an incomplete experience. Wi... more Distance Education, although revolutionary in its own right, remains an incomplete experience. With the inclusion of Virtual Reality, Distance Learning becomes much more wholesome and lucrative. Higher Education especially has been embracing the opportunities that Virtual Learning has presented to its learners. Virtual Schools to the Management itself. The learning style agrees with the current generation, even though on the whole Virtual Learning methods have failed to realize their complete potential.
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