Analysis Of Ahalya Myth

Every culture has its own way of controlling the behaviour of its women in accordance with its patriarchal values. They are transmitted from one generation to the other through its myths and rituals. When Radha violates and crosses the lines of husband-wife relationship, she is reminded of the Ahalya myth. Ahalya is punished by her husband, Sage Gautama, for her infidelity. She was discovered in bed with Indra, the king of the gods, who, in order to dispel her doubts, disguised himself as her husband. On finding her extra-marital relationship, her husband cursed her to become a stone. Later Rama happened to step on the stone and the stone came to life and became Ahalya. Even though Indra too was punished, it was “poor Ahalya who bore the

When Shyam feels that their marriage is threatened he proclaims that he has loved her more than anything or anyone. Even though he compliments her that she is ravishing in her looks, she does not find this reason enough to make her happy. She understands the hollowness of such eloquence. According to her, Shyam falsely believes that such “exaggerated compliments will make me happy and ensure marital bliss” (M 61). He is of the opinion that women are victims of flattery and even a self-contained woman as Radha is not an exception. Radha, being a modern liberated woman, is well aware of the hidden strategies employed by the patriarchal society to subjugate women.

Shyam is much concerned about the external show of things. He prefers to read Malayalam dailies but in public he would be reading The Hindu and the New Indian Express. To Radha, “it feeds his lust for the bizarre and trivia” (M 59). He does not want an assertive woman as a wife; instead he prefers “a glossy, silly wife to a homely, practical one. Glossy, silly wives are malleable” (M 61). According to him, they have a respectable place in the society. Radha feels trapped by such