Subaltern Struggles and Feminist Voices: A Comparative Study of Charles Dickens and Fakir Mohan Senapati

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of subalternism and feminism through a comparative study of two prominent literary figures: Charles Dickens and Fakir Mohan Senapati. Although separated by geography, culture, and historical context, both authors tackle the oppression, marginalization, and struggles of the poor and oppressed in their respective societies. With his deep engagement in Victorian England, Dickens particularly focuses on the plight of the poor, the working class, and women, critiquing the socio-economic systems that exacerbate their suffering. Similarly, Fakir Mohan Senapati, hailed as the father of modern Odia literature, critiques the colonial oppression and caste-based exploitation faced by the rural subaltern in Odisha, India.

In Dickens's novels, the poor, orphaned, and working-class characters stand as symbolic of the subaltern—those marginalized by society's power structures. His female characters, especially those living in patriarchal conditions, reflect the feminist critique of the period. Senapati, on the other hand, uses the rural peasant and lower-caste characters to represent the subaltern in his native Odisha, addressing colonial exploitation and caste discrimination. Through his portrayal of women in these contexts, Senapati provides a feminist critique by depicting them as victims of both gender and class oppression.

The central objective of this paper is to examine how both authors address the struggles of the marginalized, particularly through the lenses of subalternism and feminism. By analyzing key texts such as Oliver Twist, Hard Times, David Copperfield, and Chha Mana Atha Guntha, this paper delves into the similarities and differences between Dickens’s and Senapati’s treatment of class, gender, and subaltern voices. Both authors, through their nuanced portrayals of oppression and marginalization, offer powerful critiques of the socio-political systems that sustain inequality. This paper seeks to demonstrate the relevance of their works in the contemporary discourse on subaltern and feminist studies.