Redefining Womanhood: Women's Journey of Empowerment in Glass Bead Curtain

Many writers have long portrayed their female protagonists as agents of resistance, striving to redefine their identities within patriarchal frameworks. Lakshmi Kannan, a notable Indian novelist, contributes to this tradition by exploring the complexities of womanhood in early 20th-century Tamil society in her novel Glass Bead Curtain (2016). Through the lives of characters like Athai and Kalyani, the narrative illustrates how women, though constrained by conservative social norms, gradually reclaim their agency and autonomy. Their empowerment is neither sudden nor overtly radical but emerges through resilience, inner strength, mentorship, and quiet defiance. This paper examines how Kannan presents womanhood as a dynamic and evolving concept, emphasising the role of personal determination and supportive relationships in fostering self-reliance and empowerment.