International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Cry, the Peacock, a purely psychological novel is written by Indo-American author Anita Desai. This novel published in 1963, is a landmark in Indian English literature. Anita Desai has introduced a neurotic heroine along with her psychological problems in this novel. The introduction of a female protagonist who is psychologically imbalanced has never happened before in the history of Indian English literature.This study tries to identify the strange behaviour of the protagonist Maya; and to examine the sociological and psychological reasons for such behaviour. In this novel, the central character assails through a strait of darkness, thoroughly confused and puzzle about her future. In this paper, an attempt is made to analyse the protagonist of the novel; thus, linking up literature with psychology, gaining an insight into her neurotic behaviour.

Keywords: Aboriginal, Assimilation, Marginalization, Self-discovery, Indigeneity.