Saru In The Dark Holds No Terrors

The Novel The Dark Holds No Terrors is about an literate, economically independent middle class woman ,who suffer as a girl, daughter, wife and very important as a self. She is made aware of being a female. Her loveless relationship with her parents and hollow relationship with her husband provoked her to search for her self - identity. The Novel opens with Saru’s return to her ancestral home and swore never to return. But we could find womanliness specially an Indian one who does everything to save her marital life. And same is done by Saru, she ponders again and again to rehabilitate her broken relationship with her husband Manu. Saru’s Character could be understood only if one go for her episodic life. Saru was avoided and given less importance

On her part she holds herself to be responsible for being a helpless dumb spectator to her brother’s death by drowning.

Saru is highly elevated with the ambitious to become doctor. She boldly resists traditional parameters. Defiance is her second personality. She defies her mother, tradition, and caste. In her childhood she has witnessed the predicament of separation of her grandmother at the hands of harsh and savage husband, from there onwards she firmly decided to be an economically independent woman. This would provide her the protective shield against subordination and suppression. We get the partial attitude of her parents which has an adverse effect on Saru’s life. She turns to be rebellious. Her life has become worst after her brother’s death; she grew more defiant and wild and had an intense hatred for her mother:

“For Saru the very word” mother” stands for old

The duplicity of her life has marked her real self. Her character could be better understood in terms of psychological parameters. She is burden with the effects of gender discrimination, an implanted mentality of an unwanted child, and traumatic tortures in sex. She overcomes all her frustrations and goals for her self - actualization. She gave up the idea of escape , in spite decided to firmly stand for her existence. She also understood that for being happy a woman does not require a father, a brother and a husband.

CONCLUSION:

To sum up an analysis of Deshpande’s protagonist Saru reveals the trajectory of the physical, intellectual and psychological growth through their constant resistance, struggle and success. The apparent failures at different phases of their lives don’t weaken their inner strength, on contrary it gives them way to look forward for their new self. Ultimately she realizes her faults and miseries of her own self:

“My life is my own…… somehow she felt as if she had found it now, the connecting link. I have been a puppet it is because I made myself