The paper examines the shifting identity of women in Anita Desai's Fire on the Mountain and Shobha De's Second Thoughts. It highlights the emotional suffering, identity crisis, marital conflicts, alienation, psychological struggles, and social pressures faced by Nanda Kaul and Maya. While Desai's characters represent traditional women trapped in patriarchal expectations and mental distress, Shobha De's protagonists are modern, assertive, and challenge male dominance. The study focuses on themes of feminine psyche, marital disharmony, selfhood, and the quest for individual identity, demonstrating the contrasting ways both novelists portray women's struggles within Indian society.
Research Scholar, P.G. Department of English and Research Centre, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya
