Agonies of the Women in Rabindranath Tagore’s Short Stories

Abstract

This research paper examines the multifaceted portrayal of women’s suffering in Rabindranath Tagore’s short stories, focusing on the intersection of patriarchal oppression, colonial modernity, and women’s agency in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Bengal. Through a close analysis of stories such as “Streer Patra” (The Wife’s Letter), “Subha,” “Haimanti,” “Shasti” (Punishment), and “Laboratory,” this study demonstrates how Tagore depicted women’s psychological, emotional, and physical agonies while simultaneously presenting them as agents of resistance and transformation. Drawing on feminist literary criticism and contemporary scholarly discourse, the paper argues that Tagore’s female characters navigate complex social structures marked by forced marriages, dowry violence, silencing of voices, and denial of autonomy. The research demonstrates that while Tagore exposed the dehumanizing effects of patriarchal systems, he also envisioned progressive female identities that challenged traditional norms, making his work a significant contribution to early feminist discourse in Indian literature.