Archetypal Patterns and the Search for Self in Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows and Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupé

Abstract

This paper explores how archetypes, as defined by Carl Jung, shape the portrayal of women’s experiences in Indian English fiction. Focusing on Shashi Deshpande’s Roots and Shadows and Anita Nair’s Ladies Coupé, the study examines how archetypal images such as the maiden, mother, shadow, and new woman are used to depict the struggles, growth, and self-realization of female characters. Both authors highlight the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society, but their protagonists respond in different ways: Deshpande’s characters often seek selfhood within traditional roles, while Nair’s women make bold choices to assert their independence. Through these stories, the novels reveal how archetypes help us understand recurring patterns in women’s lives and the ongoing quest for identity and autonomy. The paper also interrogates the limitations of Jungian theory, especially from feminist and postcolonial perspectives, and reflects on how archetypes can both enable and constrain narrative agency for female characters.