The Urge of Emancipation in R.K. Narayan’s Daisy: A Study of Painter of Signs

Abstract

R. K. Narayan born in a South Indian village in probably one of the most versatile novelist of Anglo – Indian fiction. His imaginary town Malgudi is a broad Canvass. Where one gets to be acquainted, with the changing scenario of India. His characters are mostly the middle class milieu. Narayan is quite sympathetic towards the status of women in India. In his novels he presents the docile and submissive housewives of the pre-independence India and also the emancipated women of the post independence period who have experienced the social changes and western influence. These modern women are seen struggling to get out of their shackled existence and strive to create an identity of their own. The readers get to experience the evolution in the women characters of Narayan from the modest, religious tradition bound housewives to bold confident professional ladies. In them we hear the voice of protest against the patriarchal dominance. Daisy the heroine of the novel painter of signs reflects this metamorphosis. In this paper, through the character of Daisy I would like to bring forth Narayan’s support towards woman emancipation.