Contextualizing Socio-Cultural Dynamics in Tagore’s Novel, The Wreck

Abstract

As citizens of the millennial world in pursuit of superhuman powers, human beings are found to be in a constant effort to do the others in capabilities and achievements. Yet, the basic instincts of people are still grounded in humanitarian principles. Unfortunately, we have been so overpowered by our material pursuits that we often become oblivious of simple pleasures of life that may bring peace and happiness. Rabindranath Tagore, the towering litterateur often tried to bring home to his readers the value of simplicity in life and how unrealistic expectations from ourselves and others can bring about moral and societal corruption. He tried to draw attention, through his poignant novel The Wreck the idiosyncrasies of life and how trivial issues of gender inequality, superstations and social obligations can destroy lives and ruin destinies. In the modern age where researchers are still proposing effective solutions for gender inequality and the glass ceiling, Tagore’s novel makes some important observations about the socio-cultural dynamics of not only his day and the present but also for the time to come.