Feminist Analysis of the Story Witch by Mahasveta Devi - Article Example

Gender inequality or gender suppression is a very pertinent social malice and contemporary issue in almost every society of third-world nations. As evident eternally that literature is the reflection of society, and very close to the fact it has also become an obvious time and again that gender study has been one of the phenomenal topics in the literature of the post-modern and post-colonial era. Feminist interpretation of the text forms one of the essential devices to interpret the text from the post-modern paradigm.

Maheshwari Devi’s post-modern or more popularly feminist play, “Witch” or “Bayen” is not an exception either. The play has been a receiver of a huge critical reception and feminist reception is the most poignant in this regard. Mahesweta Devi, who is one of the prominent social activist and reformist, has worked a lot in the realm of tribal development, culture, and women development in remote areas of India, presents a volley of issues with a thesis and antithetical post-mortem of the age-old practice of witchcraft and witch-hunting in India.

The play “Witch” also brings with it, a plethora of issues with a myriad layer of interpretation operating behind and beneath the prime subject matter of the play. The play also presents the vital issue of mob psychology with respect to the relation of power and surveillance as regards mob behavior or agitation. The episode where the so-called witch, undergoes physical and mental torture and torment by the mob attack of the villagers seeking popular justice echoes Arendt’s or Foucault’s theory of mob psychology.

However, as regards the main plot of the story, Candidate, the protagonist and the convicted witch in the story responsible for all the miss-happenings and misfortunes taking place around her, survives the physical and mental devastation inflicted by the tormenting mob against her and thereby evolves out as a voice against the gender oppression and inequalities prevalent in the Indian culture and society. 

Menon, R. K. “Unheard Screams and Silent Acceptance: Modern Indian Cinematic Representations of Subaltern Women” August 16, 2010. Wide Screen. 2009.