Myth Revisionism and the Reclamation of Lost Voices: A Critique of Recontextualization of Stereotypes in Selected Literary Texts

Abstract

In the present scenario characterized by highly evolved postmodern advancements, myths and mythology astonishingly continue to replenish the aesthetic fundamentals of Indian culture. Indian Mythology, whose wide panorama spreads over the mighty epics The Ramayana and The Mahabharata, still moulds the base upon which human psyche is constructed. Myth Revisionism, the most influential trend in the postmodern literature, aims at foregrounding the concealed elements of the mythical literary artefacts, casting them the shades of contemporary relevance. This paper titled “Myth Revisionism and the Reclamation of Lost Voices- A Critique of Recontextualization of Stereotypes in Select Literary Texts”, embarks upon the analysis of the various approaches adopted by the stream of myth revisionism to centralize the marginalized characters in the epics so as to salvage their muted voices, with reference to The Palace of Illusions and The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Karna’s Wife: The Outcast’s Queen by Kavita Kane and The Liberation of Sita by P.Lalitha Kumari.  The Palace of Illusions revolutionizes the character of Draupadi attributing her a chivalric self to explore the unexplored. The Forest of Enchantments offers a feministic reinterpretation of the epic The Ramayana, from the point of view of Sita. Karna’s Wife: The Outcast’s Queen creates a fictional character Uruvi (Karna’s wife) who retells the story of Karna with her adamant voice and The Liberation of Sita is a sojourn through the life of Sita who attains the lessons of self-reliance, self-realization and independence through her meetings with Shurpanaka, Ahalya, Renuka and her sister Urmila.