Author: Pranab Kumar Senapati & Dr. Afifa Bano
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/03100030
Abstract: This research article explores the intricate interplay of tradition, guilt, and personal transformation in The Better Man by Anita Nair. Set in the culturally rich landscape of Kerala, the novel presents a profound psychological and social study of its protagonist, Mukundan, whose journey reflects the tension between inherited cultural values and the quest for self-redemption. Through a critical examination of narrative structure, characterization, and thematic development, this paper argues that Mukundan’s transformation is deeply rooted in his confrontation with guilt and his negotiation with traditional norms. The study situates the novel within broader discourses of postcolonial identity, masculinity, and moral reconstruction in contemporary Indian literature.
Keywords: Tradition, Guilt, Transformation, Masculinity, Identity, Anita Nair, Indian English Fiction, Psychological Conflict, Cultural Dynamics, Self-Realization.
Page No: 241-246