A Multidisciplinary Research Journal - Devanga Arts College

The women Nirmala and Sudha fail to integrate self-concepts in the hierarchy. As they
are not able to co-ordinate between their ideal self and basic self, they suffer from their conflict
with men and society. The Inner conflicts are more dangerous to the well-being of a person than
the external conflicts. All the conflicts, they suffer from are inner conflicts of approach
avoidance type. In such a conflict an individual is both attracted to and repelled by the same
goal or course of action. Being brought up in a traditional way to play a familiar role of a
woman, Nirmala’s basic self is for a normal role of a woman. As long as her basic self is her
real self, there is no conflict in herself before marriage. After her marriage, when she gets used
to the life of the Ultra-modern society her social self seeks a different, kind of life of a
sophisticated society. Only then there is difference between her basic self which is for tradition
and her ideal self which is against tradition.
Sudha, like her mother when she is a grown-up, she cannot actualize her ideal self to play
an independent role of a woman. As her father and society are against her ideal self and the
Socio-cultural situation does not approve of her ideal self, she suffers from role confusion. She
like her mother is torn between her real self and her ideal self. As she suffers from approach
avoidance conflict, she does not know whether to value her basic self or her ideal self. She
represses her basic self to elope with her boy friend for her temporary relief from her dependence
upon her father. She later on realizes that after marriage, she is dependent upon her husband and
breaks down emotionally.
Like Nirmala and Sudha strive to maintain and actualize themselves on both biological
and psychological levels, they are faced with obstacles internal or external which result in a state
of contradiction between two needs or valued goals and in their both internal or external
conflicts.
Both Nirmala and Sudha suffer constantly from frustrations and humiliations, as there is
discrepancy between their basic and ideal concepts. They see themselves falling far short of
their ideals by resorting to the wrong means of elopement and losing their identity.
It is no doubt the men in both the novel marginalize women by suppressing their feelings
and rights. Nor do Nirmala and Sudha know how to assert their rights and establish their
identities. Without sacrificing their cultural stands, they should have put up a fight against the
injustice. This requires mental strength will power and conviction in one’s cultural back-ground.
To acquire a new culture is a welcome move; but it should be well-adapted to the known cultural