LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:3 March 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Gender Roles and Societal Expectations in the Novels of Preeti Shenoy

Harlit Milton, III-year BA English Literature
Kavitha.S., M.A., M. Phil., (PhD), Assistant Professor

Abstract

Preeti Shenoy, a popular Indian author, is also a speaker and illustrator who primarily explores themes of love, relationships, female empowerment, personal growth, mental health, and navigating societal expectations through her novels. Preeti Shenoy’s novels It Happens for a Reason and The One You Cannot Have explore the twists and turns on one’s inner world, blended by the themes of love, loss, personal development and life’s volatility. A common thread in both works is how characters work through emotional complexities, particularly through the yearning of love and agony later finding solidity in self-discovery. Through relatable characters and vivid storytelling, she is talking about several societal challenges regarding gender roles, societal customs and expectations, and the family dynamics in personal decisiveness is also elaborately woven into both novels, presenting an analysis on societal norms while advocating for personal sovereignty. Shenoy also touches on the idea of closure, both in relationships and during the time of maturation is another recurring component, where characters must come in terms with the past to stride ahead.

Keywords: Preeti Shenoy, It Happens for a Reason, The One You Cannot Have, Personal development, Gender roles, societal expectations.

Preeti Shenoy’s It Happens for a Reason is a story about love, friendship, exploration of life’s unpredictability and the choices one makes that change the course of one’s life. The story illustrates the idea that everything that ever happens in our life, happens for a reason even if it’s good or bad. These experiences will shape us to be better in every aspect encouraging us for personal development. The protagonist of the narrative, Vipaasha (vee) is bits of the author herself. Vipasha is a single mother who faces various challenges from deprivation to disappointment. As an independent woman who lives opposite of societal expectations, the struggles she faced made her question the point of her life. As the protagonist’s story progresses, she eventually understands that every difficulty or obstacle she came through led her to find deeper connections in people and in her life. The themes emphasize in the novel are, societal expectations, love, heartbreak, gender roles, personal development etc. In the end, the protagonist comes to peace with her life holding close to the belief that everything happens for a reason, which will ultimately lead her to the true path of happiness.

The One You Cannot Have, a page turning romantic novel by Preeti Shenoy, has a captivating narrative revolving around four main characters Aman, Shruti, Anjali, and Rishabh. Aman and Shruti were inseparable and so much in love during college, but because of Shruti’s mother’s illness she unexpectedly ended their relationship leaving Aman devastated forcing him to go out of the country. Aman even after his return to India, still longed for Shruti. Shruti also kept Aman’s memories close to her heart even though she was married to Rishab.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Harlit Milton
III-year BA English Literature
Department of English
Nehru Arts and Science College (Autonomous)
Coimbatore-641105
harlitmilton07@gmail.com

Kavitha.S., M.A., M. Phil., (PhD)
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Nehru Arts and Science College (Autonomous)
Coimbatore-641105
kavi.pro@gmail.com
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