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Ideal Womanhood in Kalidasa’s Shakuntala: Submissive, Spiritual or Strong?
Watisenla Assistant Professor, Department of English, Dimapur Government College Dimapur, Nagaland.
Pages: 1-9 | First Published: 05 Aug 2025
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ABSTRACT

This article examines the representation of ideal womanhood in Kalidasa’s Abhijnanasakuntalam, focusing on whether Shakuntalā is depicted as submissive, spiritual, or strong. By contrasting her characterization with the earlier Mahabharata version and employing feminist as well as ecofeminist perspectives, the study argues that Kalidasa presents a nuanced portrayal. Shakuntala is socially compliant yet spiritually elevated, ultimately revealing inner strength as she negotiates patriarchal structures. Unlike her counterpart in the Mahabharata, who asserts herself with boldness, Kalidasa’s Shakuntala appears gentler and more restrained. Yet beneath this gentleness lies a figure whose spiritual grace, emotional maturity, and moral resilience reflect profound strength. Her journey from the forest hermitage to the royal court, marked by love, rejection, exile, and eventual recognition illustrates a transformation that unites vulnerability with empowerment. Ultimately, Shakuntala’s character transcends binary classifications, emerging as a dynamic embodiment of womanhood that resists simplistic readings of submission versus strength. This article explores three dimensions of her portrayal: submissive virtue and feminine ideals, spiritual identity rooted in nature, and agency in the face of adversity and reconciliation.

REFERENCES

  1. Aryal, K. “The Subjugated Woman ‘SELF’ in Kalidasa’s ‘Shakuntala’.” Butwal Campus Journal, vol. 7, no. 2, 2024, pp. 209–219.

  2. Thapar, R. Shakuntala: Texts, Readings, Histories. 2011.

  3. Patel, Utkarsh. “Nature, Nurture, and Empowerment: An Ecofeminist Reading …” Humanities, 2024.

  4. ResearchGate. “Women and Nature in Abhijnanashakuntalam …”

  5. Sikkim Express. “Shakuntala: A true representative of Indian womanhood.”

  6. Gillis, A. “Womanhood in Vyasa’s Shakuntala versus Kalidasa’s Shakuntala.” 2023.

  7. eNotes Editorial. “How does Shakuntala … feminine ideal?” 2020.

  8. RanJanSigDel. “Unmasking Gender Stereotypes … Feminist Critique of Abhijnanashakuntalam.” 2023.

  9. Reddit discussion: “No—Shakuntala wasn’t cursed in Mahabharata; curse added by Kalidasa …” 

  10. Lal, Malashri. The Law of the Threshold: Women Writers in Indian English. Allied Publishers, 1995.

  11. Devy, G. N. Indian Literary Criticism: Theory and Interpretation. Orient Blackswan, 2002.

  12. Aryal, K. “The Subjugated Woman ‘SELF’ in Kalidasa’s ‘Shakuntala’.” Butwal Campus Journal, vol. 7, no. 2, 2024, pp. 209–219.

  13. Thapar, R. Shakuntala: Texts, Readings, Histories. 2011.

  14. Patel, Utkarsh. “Nature, Nurture, and Empowerment: An Ecofeminist Reading …” Humanities, 2024.

  15. ResearchGate. “Women and Nature in Abhijnanashakuntalam …”

  16. Sikkim Express. “Shakuntala: A true representative of Indian womanhood.”

  17. Gillis, A. “Womanhood in Vyasa’s Shakuntala versus Kalidasa’s Shakuntala.” 2023.

  18. eNotes Editorial. “How does Shakuntala … feminine ideal?” 2020.

  19. RanJanSigDel. “Unmasking Gender Stereotypes … Feminist Critique of Abhijnanashakuntalam.” 2023.

  20. Reddit discussion: “No—Shakuntala wasn’t cursed in Mahabharata; curse added by Kalidasa …” 

  21. Lal, Malashri. The Law of the Threshold: Women Writers in Indian English. Allied Publishers, 1995.

  22. Devy, G. N. Indian Literary Criticism: Theory and Interpretation. Orient Blackswan, 2002.