An Analysis of Draupadi's Cognitive Dissonance in The Palace of Illusions

The character of Draupadi in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions will be analysed in this paper from the perspective of cognitive dissonance theory. The study shows that through internal conflicts, Draupadi's identity is formed and sculpted by her behavior in exploring contradictions in her thoughts, emotions, and actions. Drawing inspiration from Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, this paper discusses psychological pain resulting from opposing tendencies, moral dilemmas, and social norms. The critique presents a case study of how Draupadi dealt with her dissonance: by either rationalising her action or generating pressure from the dissonance upon her. Keywords: Draupadi, The Palace of Illusions, cognitive dissonance, Leon Festinger, psychological conflict, identity