REVISITING GENDER, MYTH AND FEMALE SUBJECTIVITY IN FOREST OF ENCHANTMENT BY DIVAKARUNI

Myths depict the social decorum, ideology and beliefs of people, moral conduct of human life. Myths are the symbols of the value system that instigates people to follow prescribed moral code. The gender biased dynamics of society did not recognize the value, sacrifice of women characters. The reinterpretation of female subjectivity in mythical literature, folktales is necessary to give a new life to the marginalized class and women characters who became victim of patriarchal dominance of power and greed. This has led a great impact on our society and human life. Divakaruni rises in the spectrum of women diaspora writer unravelling the cultural conflict women face in host land and her narration designates the grandeur of Indian cultural heritage through frequent reference to mythological folktales, characters and giving it a new form to old mythical tales. This paper examines the gender biased perspective of society toward women and how the reinterpretation of the Ramayana fromSitas perspective by Divakaruni brings out the inherent strength of women characters which remained subdued, buried under the carpet of silence in the name of traditional cultural values.