Abstract
The cross culture study always unveils different notions especially with regard to gender treatment and helps us to draw a parallel note between two countries which belong to different hemispheres. The text dealt in this paper is Saniya’s Tyanantar (2002) in Marathi which was later translated into English as Thereafter by Maya Pandit and “Comfort” by Alice Munro. The Indian and Canadian story respectively presents the women of twenty first century who will no more pertain to the former ideological framework. This paper ventures to present an Indian and a Canadian woman in an empowered way who have their own ideas and life to live.
Saniya’s Thereafter
Saniya’s Tyanantar (2002) in Marathi was translated into English as Thereafter by Maya Pandit. Thereafter unveils the present state of gender and psychology in India. The narration is presented from the perspective of Radhika, who leads a cosy upper middle class life. The shock comes when her husband Lalit one day suddenly announces his departure from the home without any reason. Radhika through her attitude presents the ideology of modern Indian women, refusing to proclaim her sorrow publicly.
Alice Munro’s “Comfort”
The story of “Comfort” presents an understanding couple Nina and Lewis. Nina and Lewis arrive at a decision for committing suicide as Lewis suffers from neurological disorder. The demise of her husband with a satirical note on his creationism adversaries in a way provides comfort for her. Both Radhika in Indian context and Nina in Canadian context accept the life path without trying to fight against destiny.
Conclusion
Both the novella and the short story disclose two pairs who are complement to each other. There is no gender bias between the husband and the wife. They encounter troubled times but still come up with great courage to face the situation.
Works Cited
- “Comfort”. Alice Munro. Story cuts. Web. 9 May. 2015.
- “Gender Studies and Queer Theory (1970s-Present)”. Online Writing Lab. Purdue University. Web. 8 May 2015.
- Thereafter. Trans. Maya Pandit. Five Novellas by Women Writers. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.