IJELLH Volume V, Issue IX September ϮϬϭ7 ϰϭϯ Dr. Saurabh Mishra* Difficult Daughters: A Psychological Analysis of- Female Characters and the Development of the Plot Widely acclaimed for its innate sensibility of human affairs- Manju Kapur’s ‘Difficult Daughters’ presents a saga which successfully treads through the complex terrain of family, society and relationships. The novel is fashioned against the backdrop of political turmoil and partition. It subtly conjoins the undercurrent of partition and change to the metamorphosis of the lead character- Virmati. Braving through the tempestuous sea of human emotions the story line is lent with concreteness through the meticulous articulation and development of various supporting characters. In the novel the readers are given a glimpse of situational affairs which play upon the mind of female characters and shape their responses. Manju Kapur has also been successful in shaping clearly the difference which the women face in the society; as expressed in words of Allan and Barbara-“All things are not equal; men and women are different… Not better or worse-different” (Allan & Barbara 2001). Conducting an audit of the cover title-‘Difficult Daughters’, we can sense these conflicting emotions/suggestions inscribed within the novel. Wherein the female characters are seen dwindling between- the doldrums of being entrenched in patriarchal hegemony and willingness to accept and adorn the change of being a modern independent woman. We do see a difficult son (Somnath), who is not tagged so; instead accepted due to patriarchal set up. But daughters are difficult! Since their opting for change is unusual and unacceptable as per the norms. Females are plagued with limits of the system they cannot perceive change- as the French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir states-“In actuality…for man represents the both positive and the neutral…whereas woman represents only negative, defined by limiting criteria” (De Beauvoir 1984). Kapur has defined change as the move out from the patriarchal set up. In defining change the aspects are beautifully presented in line with the ideas of- Social Category and Social Schemas. These are also individually portrayed in the light of hereditary factors and environmental factors of learning. Kapur’s style of christening the novel is the harbinger of the refine treatment meted out to characters and the metonymic references which occupy this award winning work. Manju Kapur has sought a fresh approach in defining the breeding of social change by painting the canvas of the novel with female characters who occupy different places in the time line of change. Yet amid all this change, Kapur has not missed to record the patriarchal dominance/dependence of these characters. Female characters are seen to be struggling to ___________________________________________________________________________ * Associate Professor (English), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Rae Bareli (U.P). Email: smishra@rgipt.ac.in, smrgipt@gmail.com