VEDA’S JOURNAL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE (JOELL)

ISSN: 2349-9753

An International Peer Reviewed (Refereed) Journal

Impact Factor (SJIF) 4.092           http://www.joell.in

KALIDASA’S  SHAKUNTALA  AND  SHAKESPEARE’S  MIRANDA:  STRUGGLE  FOR  IDENTITY

Dr. Madhvi Rathore¹, Prabha Gour²

¹(Associate Professor, Department of English, Bhupal Nobles University, Udaipur, Rajasthan.)

Email: madhvi_rathore@rediffmail.com

²(Research Scholar, Department of English, Bhupal Nobles’ University, Udaipur, Rajasthan.)

Email: Prabhagour15@gmail.com

doi: https://doi.org/10.33329/joell.62.25

ABSTRACT

The Abhijnanashakuntalam and The Tempest is a unique formulation of the exceptionally good dramatist Kalidasa and Shakespeare and also considered as the best Indian literary effort of any period. Abhijnanashakuntalam is taken from an epic legend Mahabharata whereas The Tempest is based on Italian tale. They both shared many things in common. The paper will give a short overview of how Miranda and Shakuntala struggle for identity and evaluate how they react on various social problems. They make us conscious of the original identity of which is reconquered after the great scramble and hurdle generated by the society.

Keywords: Kalidasa, Shakespeare, Identity formation, Women struggle.