Women, Myth and Self-Realization: Re-Envisioning Female Agency in Tagore’s Mythical Drama

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Author: Rakesh Kumar, Dr. Ravi Kumar Yadav

Keywords: Rabindranath Tagore, Mythical Plays, Female Self-Assertion, Feminine Consciousness, Gender Equality

Abstract: This study examines the assertion of female self in the mythical plays of Rabindranath Tagore, focusing on how myth is reinterpreted as a dynamic medium for articulating feminine identity, agency, and ethical autonomy. Drawing upon feminist literary criticism and myth studies, the research analyzes select plays Chitra, Chandalika, Natir Puja, and Shyama to explore Tagore’s reconfiguration of traditional mythological women into self-aware, morally conscious individuals. The study argues that Tagore departs from patriarchal mythic archetypes by foregrounding women’s inner awakening, emotional autonomy, and capacity for ethical decision-making. Rather than portraying female assertion as mere rebellion, Tagore presents it as a balanced process rooted in self-realization, responsibility, and humanist values. Through a critical examination of identity, desire, devotion, caste, and power, the paper demonstrates that Tagore’s mythical plays anticipate modern feminist concerns while remaining grounded in ethical humanism. The research contributes to Tagore scholarship by highlighting the dramatic corpus as a crucial site for feminist interpretation and underscores the enduring relevance of Tagore’s vision of gender equality in contemporary literary and cultural discourse.

Article Info: Received: 13 May 2024; Received in revised form: 11 Jun 2024; Accepted: 15 Jun 2024; Available online: 20 Jun 2024

DOI: 10.22161/ijeel.3.3.15

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