the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

3.3.4.4. Devoid of a sympathetic mother, Sam, llke Morag
of The Diviners, unconsciously searches for a mother -
substitute and flnds her in a neighbour, Mavshi ---- 'I
9 8
the
motherly type with an overflow of motherliness from her own
five children for Saru" (DH .66)
Later, even here, Saru
tastes d~sllius~onment, for when she returns to her house
after a long interval, she flnds a different Mavshl,
embzttered by life's experiences
Earller, the woman's
plumpness and placldlty had been a part of the motherlizess
whlch had attracted Saru
Now, with all her 'motherly'
qualities gone. Saru 1s dlsappoznted once agaln
3.3.4.5. Deshpande's portrayal of Saru's mother explodes
tte myth of the mother belng a paragon of all vlrtues She
herself states that her purpose in her novels 1s to shatter
the sentimental plcture of motherhood
generally one makes literature as full of women --
mother-figures -- as belng very benevolent and I
thlnk I have really moved very much away
(Interview to Mala ;989 135).
The concept of the mother as goddess also undergoes a starp
revision Saru does not regard the 'Devl' In the temple as
a mother-goddess -- "Mother Imagine the thought of having
a mother like that" (DH :91) The 'Mother', like her own
mother, 1s to Saru, a terrible cursing mother
It is her
mother's curse before her death that stings Sam to the