Feminist Thread in Anita Nair’s Mistress

Abstract

A complex examination of women's subjectivity within the confines of patriarchy and marriage may be found in Anita Nair's Mistress. By critically analyzing Radha's emotional estrangement, sexual autonomy, and defiance of conventional gender roles, this essay explores the feminist theme in the book. The study emphasizes how Nair depicts female awareness as confused yet strong, balancing responsibility and desire, drawing on feminist literary theory. According to the report, Mistress redefines feminism as an internal struggle for identity, self-respect, and emotional fulfillment in a male-dominated social order rather than as overt resistance.