English Literature/ the Woman Unknown , Raveendra Nath Tagore

WOMAN UNKNOWN-

Rabindranath Tagore

****************************************************************
By P. Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of English, Sherubtse college, Bhutan
Author of: Language and writing, DSB Publication Thimphu
Communicative English, P. K. Books, Calicut
A perception on Literary Criticism, P.K. Books, Calicut
******************************************************************

 First person narrative.
 A 27 year old man namely Anupam who is immersed in Indian tradition and culture.
 Exposes the Indian culture of the period, main cultural practices, especially arranged marriage and dowry system.
 Breaking away from the stereotypical role for ones rights with subtlety and understatement. Features
 Prologue
 Flash back(see bluffing)
 Epilogue
 Understatement
Prologue-The opening section of a work; a kind of introduction which is part of the work and not prefatory.it was common in drama in the 17th and 18th century.
Epilogue-Three meanings may be distinguished: a short speech to be delivered at the end of a play. It often makes some graceful and witty comment on what has happened and ask for approval, if not the indulgence, of the audience (b) the end of a fable. Where the moral is pointed(c)the concluding section or paragraph of any literary work, sometimes added a summary, but more often as an afterthought.
Theme-The socialtradition like arranged marriages, dowry system and its evil impacts are discussed in the story. Tagore made a social criticism on the institution of marriage and dowry system in Indian society.The writer exposes the vanity and pompousness of
Indian marriages.
Setting
1. Anupam’s house in Culcatta
2. Kanpur,Kalyan’residence
3. Small portion in the train
Conflicts

Internal conflicts Anupam versus Anupam
 Kalyani versus Kalyani

External conflicts Anupam versus uncle and mother.
 Uncle versus ShambunathBabu/Kalyani.
 Anupam family versus the society.
 Stream of anger versus revenge.
 Stream of love versus forgiveness.
“There is room here “it has been echoing in the mind of Anupam.He lived with that sw eet voice though he had no hope of marrying her,Anupam lived in the faith that she might change his mind one day. But Kalyani dedicated her service to girl’s education.Anupam is projected as a
Meek and week man .Usually ladies are projected as shy and nervous, but Kalyani in this story appears as a bold-hearted girl, capable to stand in her own feet and face all the consequences of life and teaches her community to break away from the stereotypical role of an Indian woman. Anupam’s uncle




Very miserly
Cunning and shrewd man
Behaves like a responsible person involved with all the worries of the family.
************************************