5 Male Characters Written By Women Novelists

If you have spent any time surfing through the internet, you must have stumbled upon a few reels titled "male characters written by women". The internet thinks it's a viral trend- montage of male characters in a frame with an overused song playing in the background. But the literary critics have been discoursing it over a century, questioning "the gaze" and how it creates a picture of the sexes differently when described by a man and by a woman. The "female gaze" creates a realised man rather than depicting him as the ideal man. These men know why they are fighting rather than simply showing their strength on the battleground.

The conquering over the world, battered and bruised but still seeking revenge kind of characterisation for men often reflects in writings by male authors- a criticism levied upon by the critics. While female writers tend to focus on the emotional intelligence, and introspective side of the male characters through their writings- a way to defy the societal construct. Take the famous fictional hero, Mr. Darcy from Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice or consider Charlotte Bronte's anti-hero Heathcliff. Both are brooding, hyper-masculine men, who are initially presented as stoics, but as the stories unfold, turn out to kind and resilient, going beyond the rigid expectations of patriarchy.

Going beyond the narrow definition of masculinity in the popular culture- one that rewards the emotionally distant broods but punishes the vulnerable-the female gaze takes it upon itself to break the outdated and self-destructive idea of the man and presents one that is confident, self-aware, and well-rounded. So, the new internet trend isn't necessarily about the "men written by women" but the representation of modern masculinity in a broader spectrum, the one that makes you rethink vision of masculinity. It is the way women perceive men despite their struggles and ambitions- a fuller human experience.

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Here are some Indian authors that outdid the notion of masculine version that terms men as silent and unfeeling. Instead of romanticising this idea, they present the man who doesn't limit himself as the action hero, but his self-awareness makes him far more powerful:

The Space Between Us by Thirty Umrigar

A servant in an upper-class home, Chotu is one of the few characters from the book who isn't cruel or indifferent towards women. He respects women as human beings and not based on their status in the world, highlighting his compassionate nature.

Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

One of the most fascinating male characters, Riz is a man who can show gentleness without feeling weak or seeming like that. He is someone who is willing to listen, learn, and stand by women. He respects boundaries and doesn't need to be an overbearing man to be powerful around women.

The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Banerjee- Divakaruni's interpretation of Bheem from the epic Mahabharat is fascinating. Based on Draupadi's retelling in the epic, Bheem is an emotionally available partner who prioritises her needs and her happiness over the other 4 Pandav brothers. He doesn't expect anything in return from her, he doesn't need to prove his dominance despite being the most rugged. It is his caring nature that helps him understand Draupadi's pain and suffering.

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The Heena Artist by Alka Joshi

In a world that dominates women, Balaram, the main man, is respectful and he doesn't boast about it or romanticise it. To him, women are equals and he treats them such without the grand gestures or proving he is the nice guy.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

Without needing to "fix" a woman to love her, without needing to judge her for her choices and her ways of being, Alok, is a character in the novel who understands the depth of unconditional love. He loves Anjum, who is a transvestite, appreciating her uniqueness.