Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part A (2021)

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Palace of Illusions defines a powerful feminist reinterpretation of the Mahabharata through the eyes of Draupadi, one of the most complex and misunderstood figures in Indian mythology. Divakaruni gives voice to a character traditionally silenced in patriarchal narratives. The novel explores themes of gender, identity, and power, portraying Draupadi as an assertive, intelligent, and self-aware woman who challenges social hierarchies and questions male authority. Through her voice, the text dismantles the dominant mythic discourse that often marginalises women, revealing the personal struggles, emotional depth, and moral dilemmas behind the grandeur of the epic. The narrative foregrounds Draupadi’s consciousness, allowing her to narrate her experiences of love, humiliation, and resistance against the constraints imposed by patriarchal systems. Divakaruni transforms Draupadi from a passive mythical symbol into an active agent of change an embodiment of female empowerment and self-realization. Divakaruni's The Palace of Illusions reinterprets the Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective, questioning the patriarchal framework and restoring female agency. This study explores how Divakaruni uses feminist narratology and postcolonial discourse to challenge traditional gender roles in legendary literature. The novel humanises Draupadi and presents her internal conflicts, bridging myth and modernity while emphasizing the continuing relevance of ancient stories in shaping contemporary gender discourse. The palace she builds becomes a metaphor for her inner world a space of illusion, autonomy, and imagination that contests the rigid moral codes of the epic. The novel serves as a reclamation of women’s voices within mythology, offering an alternative reading that centers empathy, individuality, and resistance. Divakaruni’s retelling not only redefines Draupadi’s legacy but also challenges readers to reconsider the cultural narratives that determine gendered notions of virtue, power, and destiny