A QUEST FOR SELF IDENTITY (Pages 22-30) by Mrs. AR. Umayal* and Mrs. Paladugu Bhanulaksmi** in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

The first chapter deals with a general background to Indian English literature and its development in present scenario. This chapter narrates the life and works of Shashi Deshpande. The second chapter analyses the novel roots and shadows. This chapter highlights the agony and suffocation experienced by the protagonist Indu, The third chapter critically analyses the novel that long silence. This chapter describes how the protagonist Jaya suffers in the hands of her husband. The fourth chapter critically analyses the novel The Dark Holds No Terrors. This chapter describes how the protagonist Saru denied of Parental love and a victim of her husband’s frustration. The fifth chapter sums up how the protagonists in the three novels Roots and Shadows, That Long Silence and The Dark holds no Terrors search their identity as a wife and a professionals.he first chapter deals with a general background to Indian English literature and its development in present scenario. This chapter narrates the life and works of Shashi Deshpande. The second chapter analyses the novel roots and shadows. This chapter highlights the agony and suffocation experienced by the protagonist Indu, The third chapter critically analyses the novel that long silence. This chapter describes how the protagonist Jaya suffers in the hands of her husband. The fourth chapter critically analyses the novel The Dark Holds No Terrors. This chapter describes how the protagonist Saru denied of Parental love and a victim of her husband’s frustration. The fifth chapter sums up how the protagonists in the three novels Roots and Shadows, That Long Silence and The Dark holds no Terrors search their identity as a wife and a professionals.Key-words: agony and suffocation, protagonist Indu, Parental love, husband’s frustration etc.