Women, Marriage and Agency: A Socio-Cultural Study of Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala

Abstract

This study is a socio-cultural analysis of Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala, directing its attention to the interconnection between identity, marriage, fidelity and female agency. One of India’s most renowned dramatists, Karnad challenges modern socio-economic realities by reimagining myth, folklore, and oral traditions. Set in rural South India, Nagamandala sheds light on the struggles of women who grapple with patriarchal structures, but still seek to maintain a sense of agency. Along with other important female characters, Rani’s journey is highlighted in the play to show bravery, resiliency, and the pursuit of selfhood in the face of constrictive social norms. This exploration of the myth and social criticism within the narrative brings an awareness to how Karnad creates a lively representation of women found between oppression and dynamism. The article seeks the socio-cultural landscape of Nagamandala by deconstructing the complexities present in gender dynamics within Indian society. It presents a complex reading that differs from solely folkloric or psychological readings by fusing textual analysis with theoretical ideas from Simone de Beauvoir, Uma Chakravarti, and modern critics.