The Illusion of Empowerment: Materialism and Distortion of Agency in Sudha Murty’s Dollar Bahu

Abstract

Sudha Murty’s Dollar Bahu presents a critical examination of the 'illusion of empowerment' within the context of Indian families navigating globalization and the allure of material wealth. This study analyzes how the novel portrays the deceptive nature of empowerment when it is primarily defined by economic success, particularly through migration to the United States. By examining the transformative journeys of characters, the research reveals how the pursuit of financial stability can overshadow emotional and cultural values, leading to emotional detachment and the erosion of familial bonds. This paper argues that Dollar Bahu challenges the notion that material achievement equates to genuine empowerment, highlighting the discrepancies between perceived and actual agency. The novel underscores the complexities of portraying female empowerment in a globalized context, contributing to a broader understanding of the paradoxical nature of empowerment within Sudha Murty’s literary works.