"The Palace of Illusions"

 



Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's "The Palace of Illusions," delivers a fresh interpretation of the epic story of Mahabharata, told through Draupadi's perspective. In "The Palace of Illusions", Divakaruni retells this ancient epic to consider Draupadi as a character, her experience, feelings, internal landscape, to experience Draupadi and how her life has been travelled in the shadows of the masculine, epic heroes.

The novel creates an accessible account of Draupadi's identity as she transforms from a princess to sharing five husbands. Divakaruni has crafted Draupadi as a complex, multidimensional character, and she considers her entitlements and aspirations. We learn of the pressures she faces regarding her responsibilities and connections with each husband, and her recognition of her contribution to the discontent preceding the war.

Divakaruni uses a captivating and descriptive writing style that effectively places the reader in the ancient world and offers descriptors that can be felt to allow readers to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of ancient India, as it transports them into kohl-black hair in ancient colourful streets. In addition, the story contains a surplus of descriptive details, allowing the reader to be able to perceive immediacy to each character and experience.

The book also explores the themes of fate, destiny and the effects of choice on life. Draupadi's life is full with both triumphs in her life and trauma of her life, and the reader experiences her emotions and turmoil along the way. It is through Draupadi's perspective we can see the grey areas of the Mahabharata, the moral ambiguity of each character and the destruction from war.

"The Palace of Illusion" is a fascinating novel that will prompt readers to question what they thought they understood. The book tells a well-known story, but from a different point of view, enabling readers to see the characters and events of the Mahabharata from the point of view of an unexpected character. I encourage readers to read this wonderful work of fiction if they like mythology, historical fiction in general, and stories of brave women.


....✒️ PRAGATI SHARMA 

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