Analysis of Cry, the Peacock

Introduction

Cry, the Peacock, published in 1963, is Anita Desai’s debut novel and a seminal work in Indian English literature for its pioneering exploration of psychological realism. The novel delves deep into the mind of its protagonist, Maya, a young, sensitive, and highly neurotic woman, whose inner turmoil and anxieties drive the narrative. It is a powerful and poignant study of a fragile psyche grappling with existential fears, a loveless marriage, and a premonition of death.

Plot Summary

The story is narrated in the first person by Maya. The novel opens with the death of her beloved pet dog, Toto, which triggers a profound emotional crisis and a premonition of her husband’s death. Maya has grown up in a wealthy, sheltered, and idyllic home, doted upon by her father. This upbringing has left her ill-equipped to deal with the harsh realities of life and the emotional detachment of her much older husband, Gautama, a rational and philosophical lawyer.

Their marriage is characterized by a profound lack of emotional connection. Gautama, immersed in his intellectual pursuits, is unable to provide Maya with the emotional warmth and reassurance she craves. Maya, in turn, is consumed by her anxieties, particularly a childhood prophecy from an astrologer that one of her parents (or a loved one) would die four months after her marriage, and that she would die four years after that. The death of her dog, Toto, intensifies this fear, making her believe the prophecy is unfolding.

As her neurosis deepens, Maya becomes increasingly obsessed with death, decay, and the passage of time. Her vivid imagination and heightened sensitivity lead her to perceive omens and portents everywhere. Her mental state deteriorates, culminating in a moment of madness where she pushes Gautama off a terrace, fulfilling her own dark prophecy. The novel ends with Maya descending into complete insanity, confined to an asylum, a tragic victim of her own fragile psyche and the emotional void in her life.

Major Characters

• Maya: The protagonist and narrator. She is a highly sensitive, imaginative, and neurotic young woman, deeply affected by her sheltered upbringing and a childhood prophecy. Her inability to cope with reality and her husband’s emotional detachment leads to her tragic descent into madness.

• Gautama: Maya’s husband. He is a much older, rational, and philosophical lawyer. He is emotionally detached and unable to understand or fulfill Maya’s deep emotional needs. He represents the intellectual, detached approach to life that contrasts sharply with Maya’s emotional intensity.

• Maya’s Father: Though not physically present for much of the novel, his doting and overprotective nature in Maya’s childhood is crucial to understanding her fragile psyche and her inability to cope with the world.

Major Themes

• Psychological Alienation and Neurosis: The central theme is Maya’s profound psychological alienation and her descent into neurosis and madness. Desai meticulously explores the inner workings of a disturbed mind, highlighting the devastating effects of emotional neglect and existential fear.

• The Conflict Between Emotion and Intellect: The novel starkly contrasts Maya’s intense emotional and sensory world with Gautama’s detached intellectualism. This fundamental incompatibility is a major source of conflict and contributes to Maya’s breakdown.

• Death and Decay: The pervasive fear of death, the awareness of decay, and the transient nature of life are recurring motifs. Maya’s obsession with the astrologer’s prophecy drives much of her anxiety.

• The Search for Meaning and Fulfillment: Maya’s desperate search for emotional fulfillment and meaning in her life, particularly within her marriage, is a key aspect of her struggle. Her failure to find it leads to her tragic end.

• Feminine Sensibility and Oppression: The novel subtly critiques the patriarchal society that fails to understand or nurture a sensitive woman like Maya. Her emotional needs are dismissed, leading to her isolation and eventual breakdown.

Literary Style

• First-Person Narrative: The use of Maya’s first-person perspective allows for an intimate and immersive exploration of her subjective reality, her thoughts, and her anxieties.
• Stream of Consciousness: Desai employs elements of stream of consciousness to capture the fragmented and often chaotic flow of Maya’s thoughts and perceptions.
• Lyrical and Evocative Prose: Despite the dark themes, the language is often poetic and rich in imagery, reflecting Maya’s heightened sensitivity and vivid imagination.
• Symbolism: The peacock, with its cry, is a powerful symbol of beauty, passion, and the premonition of death. Other symbols like the moon and animals contribute to the novel’s atmospheric quality.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Cry, the Peacock was a groundbreaking novel that established Anita Desai as a significant voice in Indian English literature. It was praised for its psychological depth, its sensitive portrayal of a disturbed mind, and its departure from purely social realism. The novel remains a powerful and disturbing exploration of the human psyche, particularly the vulnerabilities of women in a patriarchal society, and is considered a classic of psychological fiction.