Department of Russian and Comparative Literature, University of Calicut

Abstract

This study enquires the postmodern treatment of womanhood in short fiction of Ludmilla Petrushevskaya. Departing from traditional feminist perspectives, the research aims to analyze how Petrushevskaya's narratives challenge the Soviet model of the 'ideal woman' prevalent during the Soviet period. Through close readings of selected stories, the study examines Petrushevskaya's portrayal of gender roles and identities, critiquing stereotypical representations of women in Russian culture and literature. Drawing upon postmodern gender theory, particularly Judith Butler's perfomative theory, the analysis highlights Petrushevskaya's subversion of gender identity and gender roles and her characters surpasses the traditional notions of womanhood.Objectives 1. Critically evaluate the dominant trend in Literature during Soviet period 2. To analyse the merits and demerits of soviet official and underground literature 3. To analyse stereotypical images of women in Russian culture and literature 4. To evaluate role of Perestroika and Glasnost movements in freedom of expression in literature 5. To problematize short fiction without gender stereotypes 6. To analyse womanhood on the basis of postmodern gender theories 7. To analyse the short fictions of Ludmilla Petrushevskaya in a humanistic perspective. 8. To create an awareness of the equalitarian expression in society, culture and literature irrespective of gender dichotomies.Research Methodology Methodologically, the study employs an inductive approach, close reading of selected works and formulate hypothesis. It also utilizing historical criticism to situate Petrushevskaya's writings within the socio-cultural context of Soviet Russia. The research employs analytical and comparative methods, supported by the 8th edition of the MLA format.Structure of the Study The present study “Shattering the Ideal: Depiction of Womanhood in the Short Fiction of Ludmilla Petrushevskaya- A Socio Literary Study” has been presented in four chapters along with an introduction and conclusion. Conclusion The study reflects on Ludmilla Petrushevskaya's portrayal of women in Soviet Russia, drawing parallels between her personal experiences and the marginalized lives depicted in her fiction. Petrushevskaya's own encounters with discrimination, stemming from her family's socio-political status as "enemies of the people," diverge from the conventional narrative of the 'Soviet woman.' Through her characters, she highlights the struggles of the common people, challenging the Soviet government's idealized image of womanhood. Embracing Judith Butler's postmodern perspective on gender, Petrushevskaya rejects the notion of gender as a fixed identity, instead emphasizing its intersectionality with various socio- political factors. Her stories exemplify Butler's assertion that gender is performative, suggesting that by deconstructing gender norms, individuals can attain equality based on shared humanity. Petrushevskaya's characters defy traditional gender roles, ultimately destabilizing the very concept of gender imposed by patriarchal societies.