Abstract
This article examines Priscilla Hart’s character — the protagonist of Shashi Tharoor’s Riot — from the perspective of existentialism and feminism. The paper explores Priscilla’s doings and thinking with reference to the beliefs of existentialists and feminists, finding her different from other major women characters in that she fights not only for self but also for the masses, especially for deprived women and men who suffer due to ignorance, financial instability, or prevalent social beliefs. The article investigates whether Priscilla lives a totally authentic life pursuing her dreams and ambitions while strongly raising her voice for women’s autonomy, liberty, rights and freedom.
Keywords: existentialism, feminism, identity construction, cross-cultural love, social change
Priscilla as Existentialist and Feminist
Priscilla is a 24-year-old American volunteer working for an NGO called “Help-Us,” involved in developing awareness among women about population control in Zalilgarh, a district in UP. She tries to wake up those women who have not woken up or who do not want to wake up on their own. She does not find anything changing as women are still so submissive that they cannot raise a question even for their welfare.
As a radical and individualist feminist, Priscilla campaigns on issues of universal interests: women’s right to autonomy, pregnancy and education. She questions the authenticity of patriarchal society where a woman still suffers domestic violence in spite of sacrificing a lot for her family.
The Cross-Cultural Love Story
The American version of the novel has been subtitled “A Love Story” as it is a sensual, stormy, ill-fated romance between Priscilla Hart, the American family planning counselor, and V. Lakshman (nicknamed Lucky), an older married government official posted as the District Magistrate. Priscilla finds it difficult to accept Lakshman’s decision in favour of his family and social convenience, ignoring her deep love. As a libertarian feminist she stresses the legitimacy of emotional love over physical love.
Identity and Social Constructions
Priscilla undertakes several existential issues, like the conflict between the existential need and social expectations. She tries to assert as an existentialist and analyse social constructions of gender and sexuality, highlighting gender inequality, gender politics, and power relations. To achieve her objectives, she campaigns on issues such as reproductive rights, domestic violence, discrimination, stereotyping and oppression of various types and degrees.
Conclusion
Priscilla Hart appears as a very robust feminist, changing her tones between a radical and individualist (libertarian) feminist depending on the issues and situations. What sounds great about her feminism is her constantly stressing that deprived and less-privileged women have the right to enough information to make informed choices about their social and personal lives, which could be seen as her plea for Indian women and men to construct and perform new identities in new lights which are more democratic and fairer.
Works Cited
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