Intergenerational Conflict and Reconciliation in Uma Parmeshwaran’s ‘Sons Must Die’
Author : Dr. Upendra Kumar Dwivedi
Abstract :
Thus, Sons Must Die by Uma Parmeshwaran can be best discussed concerning generational theory which has been developed by Karl Mannheim. Mannheim’s theory focuses on the generation of individuals and how due to the different socio-historical backgrounds they have different values that are inapposite to each other. This theoretical perspective is very important in analysing the generational conflict portrayed in Parmeshwaran’s play. In Sons Must Die, Parmeshwaran depicts the conflict of generations in a very realistic manner. The older generation has traditional values and culture to uphold while the younger generation is all about breaking the barriers and emancipation from the traditional culture. This clash of ideologies gives the storyline a good background of conflict, which represents the changing society, and the generation gap that is evident in the contemporary family. The play shows how these conflicting values affect the character’s behaviours and choices, and the psychological and emotional pressures of holding to traditional gender roles while striving for new opportunities. Parmeshwaran’s portrayal of the character is quite complex as it gives the audience a glimpse of how people face conflicts within themselves when they try to adapt to new ways of thinking. Thus, the play shows that there is a possibility for the restoration of relationships even if the characters are very different. This is a good indication that there is a need for people of different generations to embrace dialogue as a way of solving existing conflicts as this will only require empathy from all parties involved. In contributing to a better understanding of how literature embodies and deconstructs the social relations between generations, this paper applies generational theory to Sons Must Die. Hence, analyzing Parmeshwaran’s work, one can find that it is a vivid example of how the changes in the family and society occur and how they are addressed, which provides important insights into the processes of conflict and reconciliation between generations.
Keywords :
Generational conflict and reconciliation, generational theory, cultural values and attitudes, family dynamics, modernity postmodernity and tradition.
