The article examines the theme of women's search for identity in Shashi Deshpande's novel A Matter of Time. It focuses on the predicament of Indian middle-class women within a patriarchal society, highlighting issues such as disappointment, suppression, desertion, silence, and endurance. The study centers on Sumi, the protagonist, who is deserted by her husband and left to raise three daughters alone. Through realist narration, the paper analyzes female suffering, marital disillusionment, societal norms, and women's silent resistance, portraying Deshpande's women as individuals moving from despair toward self-realisation while remaining constrained by traditional structures.
Research Scholar, P.G. Department of English and Research Centre, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya
