Abstract

Manju Kapur writes extensively about the importance of education in the lives of women in her novels, especially in Difficult Daughters and Married Woman. During the struggle for the independence of India women had contributed a huge part and the new nation of India was born. The newly born country made it possible for women to pursue their education and find jobs and through that achieve economic independence in their lives. However the male dominated cultural tradition of India did not give much room for women to be independent and pursue their education. It seemed the only possibility that the traditional belief kept open for women was just to get married and be good wives. Therefore instead of finding education and jobs they were expected to find good husbands. But for the characters in Manju Kapur’s novels, the traditional ways of settling for a married wife didn’t give satisfaction and they had to fight for their freedom from the responsibilities of family and the break the shackles that confined to just a life of home

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