Navigating Global Capital's Insidious Divide: Socio-Economic Desperation and Resistance in 'Harvest'

This paper critically examines Manjula Padmanabhan’s play, Harvest and her depiction of the discrimination faced by the urban underprivileged at the hands of the urban privileged. Through the analysis, the paper aims to highlight that addressing the pervasive socio-economic class divide in urban India is a primary thematic concern of English plays written by contemporary Indian women playwrights. The paper also posits that plays like Harvest, where the conflict’s resolution depends on the decision of the female character, widen the spectrum of perspectives and storytelling, marking a transformative shift in the world of dramatic literature.