WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AND THE QUEST FOR IDENTITY IN ANITA NAIR'S LADIES COUPE

Anita Nair was a realistic writer who depicted people's real-life situations in her novels, and she was a unique writer with enormous proficiency in creating more fascinating novels. Anita Nair vividly conveyed the sorrows and frustrations of women in society. In a patriarchal society, the difficult challenge for a woman was to discover her identity and equip herself with the necessary skills and qualities. Anita Nair's work Ladies Coupe depicted six female characters and their life stories. Akhila, the protagonist of this story, travelled by train to attain independence and to discover her individuality. This novel not only dealt with subjects such as Women's Empowerment, Quest for Identity, Women's Sufferings, and so on, but it also expressed the characters' inner thoughts and mental psyche. Akhila began her journey in this story by pondering whether a woman needed a man to be happy or if she could be happy as a single woman. She took a train to Kanyakumari and had the opportunity to travel with five other women in the compartment, and she was able to come to a conclusion after hearing their stories. This Research paper examines the good characteristics of women who have overcome adversity in their lives. It also shows how women empower themselves as capable people in society and begin to find themselves and establish a strong identity in society.