the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

exclaims in joy: "It was as if all the pent up desires of my
childless days were now bearing fruit" (NS:22).
6 0
2.3.2. In Shashi Deshpande's The Dark Holds No Terrors,
Saru's mother's discriminatory attitude towards her son and
daughter is a reflection of her asslrnllation of patriarchal
values. While undue concern and importance is accorded to
Dhruva. Sam is exposed only to her mother's open hostility
and unconcern
Her mother's accusation against her. "Why
are you alive when he is dead? (DH 35) makes her feel
unwanted --- "that to her mother, compared to Dhruva, she
hereself was nothlng" (DH 7 5)
That 1s why she bltterly
ccmpares her mother to the heroic mother, Jllabal, who
moulded her son, Shlvaji.
2.3.3. Both Sam's mother and Rukmanl share a sense of
dlsappolntrnent towards thelr daughters but the lntenslvf of
then disapproval varles
While Saru's mother has nothing
but resentment and antagonism for her t~ll her death,
Ruknanl cannot deny her affection, while she ~s unmarried or
even after she returns abandoned by her husband
At the
Cost of her own reputation, Rukmani vlslts the docror,
Kenny, In hope of curing Ira of her barrenness and later too
she stoically accepts Ira's illegitimate child
2.4.0. Feminine motherhood demands of women renunciatlon
of their alms, interests, desires and careers, and the