Volume VI Special Issue VI September 2026

Name of Author : Divya. J, Dr. R Geetha

Title of the paper : Re examining Gender and Cultural Identity in Daughters of Madurai and Poonachi: A Theoretical Approach with Butler and Bhabha

Abstract: This paper delves into the intricate interplay of gender and cultural identity as depicted in Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar and Poonachi by Perumal Murugan, employing the theoretical frameworks of Judith Butler and Homi K. Bhabha. Butlers concept of gender performativity and its subversion is juxtaposed with Bhabhas theories of hybridity and cultural ambivalence to unravel how these texts critique societal norms and power structures. Daughters of Madurai explores gender based violence and the socio political constructs surrounding female identity, while Poonachi allegorically interrogates marginalisation, ecological concern, and human animal relationships through the lens of rural Tamil Nadu. The analysis emphasises how both texts destabilise fixed categories of identity, presenting resistance as an act of cultural negotiation and resignification. By synthesising these critical lenses, the study highlights the universal yet contextually unique struggles for agency within patriarchal and culturally stratified landscapes, providing a nuanced understanding of identity formation and resilience in the face of systemic oppression.

Keywords : cultural negotiation, gender, identity, subversion, transformation, hybridity, performativity.

DOI :

Page Number : 105-113