💌 !
Random Thoughts on Gender in Putrika
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Putrika spends a lot of time on the deconstruction of gender roles, and family roles (I’ll probably discuss families later)
The name itself, Putrika, in addition to meaning a daughter appointed to raise male heirs, also means doll or puppet- a reference to the helplessness and weakness that is associated with femininity.
Chitrangada’s father has toxic masculinity- the need to be the strongest and the best in the room, and that attitude is drilled into Chitrangada since birth
Her mother is a symbol of femininity- seen rather than heard, and Chitrangada, through the masculine viewpoint she’s been brought up with, sees her mother as weak because of it.
But Queen Revati wasn’t helpless, that was a myth. And while Chitrangada idolizes her father, he abuses her in ways that she can’t comprehend yet, because she thinks everything he does is for her own good
Really she’s even more powerful because she has to deal with misogyny and King Chitravahana’s bullshit
Other figures in the book, like Gandhari who blinded herself for love, represent femininity. Gandhari is one of the strongest characters in the book. (She shows up late in the book so I don’t want to spoil too much).
One of the characters in the novel is Shikandi, man who was born a woman. He transitioned because of his belief in the inherent weakness of being female (something that runs through some of older trans male accounts- perhaps due to assimilation into a very sexist society) and because he wants to kill someone who kidnapped him when he was younger, and didn’t marry him, leaving him disgraced. This is another example of toxic masculinity, the need for vengeance and violence. In some way, it’s showing what Chitrangada could become. (Chitra does look up to him though and tbh he’s a fave go murder ur kidnapper darling 🤩)
Ok going to make a character post about Shikandi soon because I can’t sum it up very well
Karna feminine as hell and what about it 😌 (he literally just says “fuck y’all” and teaches Chitrangada how to shoot arrows and it’s cute ok) he says fuck gender roles when he’s younger and... glows down. Sorry. (He was raised in a healthier household, so there wasn’t really the issues Chitrangada had, since she grew up in such a judgmental and constantly watched environment. - but Karna changes as he moves into the public eye and feels more pressure to conform. fucks up reeeal bad)
If you know about the Mahabharat, you know that there is a lot of violence and dishonor (adharma actions) during the story- an extension of the toxic masculinity of a large portion of the characters in the story, and the toxic masculinity pervasive through society
The entire war could’ve not happened if people weren’t so proud and violent (toxic masculinity) and really the war is an extension of Princess Chitrangada’s own battle to put behind a past of pain and take it out in a more healthy way. Strong femininity!!!!
Love her so much she deserves better 🥺
