Misogyny and Navigating Self: A Radical Feministic Analysis of Ghose’s The Illuminated

Abstract

The present study mainly examines misogyny and the navigation of self in Ghose’s (2021) novel The Illuminated using critical framework of radical feminism as propounded in de Beauvoir’s (1949/2011) The Second Sex. de Beauvoir's model of radical feminism is a powerful framework for understanding the interconnectedness of misogyny and identity. de Beauvoir’s framework challenges the fundamentals of patriarchy. This tries to liberate women against widespread, active, and blatant discrimination. Ghose’s (2021) work, The Illuminated is a potent critique of misogyny that highlights the negative impacts on women's identities and self-concepts. This study explores the long-lasting effects of misogyny on women's lives as well as their capacity for empowerment and resistance. The findings of the study show that in Ghose’s (2021) work, misogyny significantly moulds characters' identities and frequently results in isolation and self-doubt. It reveals that to get over social restraints, female characters use a range of coping strategies, including resistance, resilience, and communal empowerment.