Novels of Anita Desai

Novels of Anita Desai explores the deep interconnection between women and nature through the lens of ecofeminism thus analyzing how Anita Desai’s selected novels—'Cry the Peacock’ ‘Where Shall We Go This Summer?’ and ‘Fire on the Mountain’—reflect ecological and feminist concerns. Ecofeminism which merges feminism with environmentalism critiques the patriarchal oppression of both women and nature. Desai’s female protagonists are often portrayed as misfits in the society struggling with emotional deprivation and societal constraints. Her novels highlight the “inner climate” of these women by drawing parallels between their emotional turmoil and the environmental degradation.The study emphasizes how nature is feminized across cultures—depicted as nurturing fertile and generous—and how women like nature are subjected to domination and exploitation in patriarchal societies. The male characters in Desai’s works often exhibit insensitivity towards both women and nature thereby reinforcing these power structures.