Gender Representation and Identity in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions

Abstract

This research article analyzes gender representation and identity construction in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions, a feminist retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi’s perspective. The novel reimagines Draupadi not as a passive mythical wife but as a powerful and emotionally complex woman navigating a patriarchal world. This paper explores the performative aspects of gender roles and how Draupadi subverts, questions, and redefines traditional expectations of femininity, power, and agency within the mythological structure. It also investigates the historical and cultural influences that shape Draupadi’s social identity, challenging essentialist notions of gender. The study demonstrates how mythological fiction can serve as a site of gender resistance and introspection. By situating Divakaruni’s novel within contemporary feminist theory and mythopoeic criticism, this paper underscores the continued relevance of mythology in conversations around gender justice.