Symbolism in Anita Desai's Novels

This book is an attempt to discuss comprehensively the symbolism of Anita Desai who is unquestionably one of the foremost Indian English novelists. Her greatness is evident not only in her depiction of the depths of human consciousness and subconsciousness, in her existentialist concern which makes her writings uniquely powerful in her poetic expression, etc., but also in her skilful use of symbolism. Like Lawrence, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Andre Gide, Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka and William Faulkner, she is a brilliant symbolist making an abundant use of symbols in her fictional works. In Fact, the symbolic strain in her fiction is in a sense, the key with the help of which one can properly understand and evaluate her art and ideas. But curiously enough, no full-length study of this significant aspect of her fictional art has hitherto been made; only a few pages are devoted to it in the books so far written on her. Hence the need and justificantion to undertake the present study of her symbolism.

Born on June 23, 1963 at Aligarh (Utttar Pradesh) Kajali Sharma passed M.A. in English Literature in 1983 in 1st division obtaining first position. She specializes in Indian English fiction, and has already written a few valuable research papers. She was awarded the degree of Ph D in English in 1990 on Anita Desal's fiction. She teaches at T.S.E. Collage, University of Bombay. Currently she is engaged in post-doctoral research on comparative literature.

The present book, a revised version of my doctoral dissertation entitled Symbolism in Anita Desai's Fiction, is an attempt to discuss comprehensively the symbolism of Anita Desal's, who is incontestably one of the foremost Indian English fictionists. Her greatness is evident not only in her depiction of the depths of human consciousness and subconsciousness, in her existentialist concern which makes her writings uniquely powerful in her poetic expression, etc., but also in her skilful use of symbolism. Like Lawrence, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf Andre Gide, Tomas Mann, Franz Kafka and William Faulkner, she is a brilliant symbolist making an abundant use of symbols in her fictional works. Symbols endow her novels with a rare compactness and richness. Thus the symbolic strain in her fiction is in a sense the key with the help of which one can properly understand and evaluate her art and ideas.

In fact a close scrutiny of Anita Desal's writings both expository and creative brings out the truth that symbolism is an integral aspect of her mind and art. As such, a comprehensive understandings of her themes and technique. But curiously enough, no full-length study of this significant aspect of her fictional art has hitherto been made; only a few pages are devote to it in the books so far written on her. Hence the need to undertake the present study of her symbolism. I have not discussed in this dissertation Anita Desai's books written for children and her short stories because in them the novelist finds little scope for the full expression of her symbolist imagination.

I cannot these prefatory remarks without expressing my gratitude to these who have been kind enough to help me in the preparation of this thesis. I am greatly indebted to my learned supervisor, Dr. Manorama Bala Trikha, reader in English, institute of Advanced Studies, Meerut University, Meerut for the unfailing help, affection and guidance. I am deeply grateful to my father, Prof. K.K Sharma D. Litt., Professor of English, University of Allahabad, for his constant help patronage that sustained me to pursue this work to its completion. I am much beholden to my uncle Professor T R Sharma, D Litt., Head of the Department of English, Institute of Advanced studies, Meerut University, Meerut for his kind help and encouragement. I am sincerely thankful to my husband, Mr. Rajeev Sharma, M. Tech, D. S. T. E, Western Railway, for his encouragement and cooperation in many matters. Also, I must make a mention of my daughter, Jayati, who, though only a four-year-old child, would instruct me several times a day saying. "Mummy you must study", "Mummy, would you not read or write?", etc. etc.

In the end, acknowledgment must be made to the various libraries without whose help no scholarly work can ever be possible. In this context, I will like to mention the Delhi University Library; the British Council Library, New Delhi; the U S I S Library, New Delhi; the Allahabad University Library, Allahabad; the Bombay University Library, Bombay; and the Meerut University Library, Meerut. I also take this opportunity to express my indebtedness to all the scholars who have written on Anita Desai's