Digital Object Identifier
R. K. Narayan, an important figure in Indian English literature, expertly depicted the complexities of women’s lives through his diverse and nuanced female characters. R.K. Narayan’s writing stands out for its realistic and deeply layered portrayal of women. By focusing on the everyday social realities of his time, his works highlight how women constantly struggled against rigid societal expectations to claim their own space and autonomy. Crucially, Narayan skillfully captures the psychological motivations that drive these characters, making their struggles both realistic and deeply impactful. Narayan’s works explore women’s roles within the family and society, tracking their gradual maturity and personal growth within a rigid social framework. In his novels, R. K. Narayan portrayed his female characters with a full range of attributes, creating a distinctive impact on the representation of women in society. R. K. Narayan in his novels explores many female characters – modern as well as traditional and the differences in their thought patterns, habits, ambitions, beliefs, conduct, aspirations and their way of looking at life. By providing a comprehensive analysis of “The Guide”, this study contributes to a broader understanding of R. K. Narayan’s literary works and their impact on Indian literature and society. In this paper, we will analyse R.K.Narayan’s novel The Guide to analyse his depictions of women and their role in Indian society. An examination of the characters and themes throughout the book, we will discuss how Narayan’s representations demonstrate an evolving worldview within the context of both tradition and modernity.
Mrs. Saroj Bala. “Role of Women in R. K. Narayan’s Novel The Guide.” The Criterion: An International Journal in English, vol. 17, no. 4, August 2026, pp. 929-939. DOI, https://doi.org/10.66376/criterion.v17.n4.57.
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