Hello and welcome to our website StudyLovers4U.com.Here we will look at the Summary of That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande and key facts of it with a proper explanation and in-depth analysis.
Introduction of That Long Silence
“That Long Silence” is one of the most well-known novels of Shashi Deshpande. It was published in 1988. It won her high praise in literary circles and the highest literary recognition in India- the Sahitya Akademi Award. It is a novel about domesticity. Its narrator is an upper-class housewife in Bombay, named Jaya. So, let’s start with a Summary of That Long Silence and then discuss its key facts.
About the Novelist Shashi Deshpande
- Shashi Deshpande is Well-known in the field of Indian literature in English.
- She was born in Dharwad (Karnataka), the daughter of a renowned dramatist & a great Sanskrit scholar Sriranga.
- She pursued education in Dharwad, Bombay & Bangalore.
- She had a very sharp mind.
- She received a degree in Eco & Law.
- After getting married, shifted to Bombay.
- There she decided to pursue a course in Journalism from Bharti Vidhya Bhawan.
- That Long Silence, If I Die Today. A Matter of Time, Come Up and be Dead etc are major works of Shashi Deshpande.
Summary of That Long Silence
The novel is the story of the marital life of Jaya and Mohan. They come from a very ordinary non-urban middle-class background. Jaya belonged to a middle-class family in North-West India, that was not ready to give equal status to men and women. She got married despite her family’s disapproval. Jaya is living in Bombay with her husband Mohan. They have two teenage children – Rahul and Rati. Monan is an engineer in a steel plant. He is charged with taking bribes and suspended from his job.
The whole world of Jaya and Mohan comes crashing as a palace of cards. Mohan faces great humiliation. He becomes extremely agitated and irritable. He expects his wife should come out openly in support of him. He would like to be seen as a victim of the jealousy of his colleagues and superiors.
Economic and Social Difficulties
In addition to this, the family have to face economic and social difficulties. They have to leave the comfortable churchgate flat. The family would have been shelterless if Jaya’s elder brother Dinakar had not come to their rescue. He offered the family a flat at Dadar. Dadar was a lower middle-class locality. It had less accommodation. There everybody had come to know of Mohan’s being disgraced in service. All this made him extremely short-tempered.
Jaya’s Situation
Jaya felt greatly worried about whatever had happened. On the one hand, she was taught by her conventional Hindu upbringing to stand by her husband come what may. On the other hand, her moral consciousness made her suspect that Mohan had been guilty of wrongdoing. Therefore, Jaya could not come out in total support of her husband. She was in an acute dilemma. It made her reserved and quiet. She became just a passive spectator.
Rahul and Rati
What Jaya and Mohan were going through could not be kept secret from their children – Rahul and Rati. Rati was sociable. She could make friends easily and took an interest in the activities outside the four walls of the house. But Rahul was an introvert. He was moody. His parents were greatly worried about how he would react to the changed situation. When Mohan proposed that a tutor should be engaged to help the children work on their studies, Rahul flatly refused to have to tutor.
Fortunately, their neighbours – Ashoka and Rupa offered to take Rahul and Rati along with them to the South. They were going there during their vacation with their children who were of the same age as Rahul and Rati. Thus Jaya could save her children from the depressing experience at home.
Thoughts of Jaya
Jaya is often lost in thinking of the past. She recalls the hard life of her grandmother, who used to live after her widowhood. She also thinks of Kusum, the niece of Vanita Mami who had been deserted by her husband. She was living a miserable half-crazy existence. Everybody ridiculed her. Even her children did not like to be with her. Jaya also thinks of the whole family of the Nairs who committed suicide because of economic difficulties.
Jaya also recalls the plight of her mother-in-law who was ill-treated by her father-in-law. Even Mohan’s sister who told Jaya of her mother’s suffering, met a tragic death. Both these women – Mohan’s mother and sister died in silence. Thus, Jaya is fully aware of the subjugated status of women in society.
Separation
Jaya comes across her younger brother, Ravi, in the market. He tells her that He has not been on good terms with his wife, Asha. He asks Jaya to help him to patch up the differences between him and his wife. In case of failure, he has made up his mind to divorce her. He also claims that he has sources to help Mohan through his friends. When Jaya refers to Mohan, he becomes suspicious. He asks Jaya again and again about it, believing that Jaya must have talked about his problems to Ravi. But Jaya bursts out in hysterical laughter at the absurdity of the whole situation.
Mohan is taken aback. He feels that Jaya is ridiculing him. Jaya tries to make him understand that she is laughing at the whole ridiculous situation. But Mohan is not convinced. Mohan feels humiliated. He gets up and leaves the flat, threatening that he will never return to her.
Jaya is at her wit’s end. She is terror-stricken. She cannot realize an existence independent of her husband. She feels that it is the end of the road for her. She goes to her churchgate flat. There the surroundings remind her of the happy days she had spent there as a housewife. It is here that she receives a phone call from Rupa. She tells Jaya that she is back along with her husband and children from the South.
Jaya’s children – Rahul and Rati had also come along with them. But soon after their return, Rahul has disappeared somewhere. This puts Jaya into a panic. She just does not know what to do. She is in a delirium. Her neighbours are greatly alarmed at her condition. When Jaya is offered a glass of water, she starts screaming that there are dead ants in it. After that Jaya gets the information that Rahul is at Saptagiri and that he would soon return to her. This gives some solace to the mind of the mother and the wife. She leaves for Dadar in a highly agitated frame of mind.
When Jaya reaches her Dadar flat, she is in an agitated mood. One of her neighbours Mukta, tries her best to put Jaya at her ease. She takes Mukta in her confidence. She tells her that Mohan has left her in great anger and he may not come back. Mukt.. sympathises with her. She also wonders what Jaya would do if Mohan fails to return. Jaya herself does not know the answer to this crucial question.
Contemplative Mood of Jaya
After a while, Rahul returns together with his uncle – Mohan’s younger brother, Vasant. Jaya assures him that she has heard from Mohan who had gone out a short while ago. But he now plans to be back soon. After that, everything will be alright. Jaya is in a contemplative mood. She recalls an evening spent in a park. There she saw a villainous man staring at her. She also recalls again the unfortunate Nair family which committed suicide by common agreement.
Open Ending
The novel ends on a rather tentative note. The lay reader is wondering whether Mohan would be packed and everything would be alright. Even if he returns, whether things would be normal again. The reader is left wondering what the life of the characters concerned would be like when they get together again.
Key Facts
| TITLE: | That Long Silence |
| AUTHOR: | Shashi Deshpande |
| PUBLISHED: | In 1988 |
| LANGUAGE: | English |
| GENRE: | Novel |
Conclusion
In sum-up, after analysing the summary of That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande, readers can conclude that Shashi Deshpande is a writer who always looks into the problems of females. The novel That Long Silence indicates the situation of women mainly from the character of Jaya. The novel shows how Indian women are forced to fulfil their husband’s wills and desires.
who is the author of that long silence?
Shashi Deshpande is the author of that long silence.
When was That Long Silence published?
That Long Silence was released in 1988.
Who is the protagonist of That Long Silence?
Jaya is the protagonist of That Long Silence.
What is the theme of That Long Silence?
The major theme of That Long Silence is women’s search for an identity. Apart from this, male-dominant society, gender discrimination, family relationships, male-female relationships etc.
What is the summary of That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande?
That Long Silence is the story of Jaya who is the protagonist of the novel.
What is the analysis of That Long Silence by Shashi Deshpande?
That Long Silence is an illustration of the Indian patriarchal culture and women’s problems.
Is Jaya a writer in That Long Silence?
Yas, Jaya a writer in That Long Silence.
Who is Mohan in the novel That Long Silence?
Mohan is Jaya’s husband and engineer in the novel That Long Silence.
What is the mythical name of Jaya in That Long Silence?
Suhasinini or Seeta is the mythical name of Jaya in That Long Silence.
What is the relationship between Jaya and Kamat?
Kamal is Jaya’s best friend, their friendship is deep and spiritual.
Why was Mohan suspended from his job in That Long Silence?
Mohan was suspended from his job because he was involved in business malpractices.