Published Paper Details:

This paper offers a feminist and psychological analysis of Shashi Deshpande's The Dark Holds No Terrors, focusing on the ways in which silence, trauma, and patriarchal conditioning shape the protagonist Sarita's fragmented identity. Using qualitative textual analysis and feminist theoretical perspectives, the study examines the tension between Sarita's professional success and her experience of domestic oppression. The analysis reveals that patriarchal norms function both externally and internally, leading to emotional repression, silence, and identity conflict. The paper argues that Deshpande exposes the limitations of apparent female empowerment within a male-dominated social structure. It further demonstrates that self-awareness and the confrontation of personal trauma are essential for achieving autonomy. The study highlights the novel's significance within Indian feminist literature and its continued relevance to contemporary discussions of gender, identity, and power.