Desire for Independent Female Selves in Nadine Gordimer's None To Accompany Me

Abstract

The thesis entitled “Desire of Independent Female Selves in Nadine Gordimer'sNone to Accompany Me”explores women characters the transformationof female characters into their own independent selves. The novel revolves around post apartheid South Africa which has become an inspiration to realize their independent identity.Vera, the protagonist of the novel, gets trapped between her personal needsand political commitments. With transformation of South Africa because of the abolition of apartheid system she prefers political needs to her personal and familial ties. It is her estrangement toward her life and concept of free sexuality that lead her take political preference as her own independent existence. Similarly, Sibongile Maquma, a freedom fighter of apartheid movement, faces domestic strains when she getsa position in the board of anti-apartheid movement. Yet,she resists the patriarchal thought that women should take familial needs as their utmost responsibilities.She makes a political prominence at the cost of her sound marital relationship.Gordimer at first places them amid post apartheid South Africa and the she depicts them taking their journey into an independent state with awareness of their selves and self-sacrifice.They live life of their own selves abandoning the undue definition of women given by patriarchal thought.