In literary criticism of the contemporary era, terms related to "feminism", "feminist reading", "feminist writing", and "feminist criticism" or "gynocriticism" as Elaine associates it Showalter , these days they have become passwords. What is feminism? According to the Oxford Dictionary, the term feminist persists into the modern period of the nineteenth century and illustrates the qualities of women. The meaning of these terms has gradually changed and currently refers to a theory of the political, economic and social behavior of the sexes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to Pam Morris the term feminism is classified according to two systematic advances. The first is that gender variation underlies structural discrimination among women through which women suffer systematic social inequality and the second is that quality between the sexes is not just the result of biological requirements, although it is shaped by cultural creation of gender prejudices. This exposes feminism with its double framework to learn about the social and spiritual system that instructs and perpetuates gender dissimilarity and subsequently to accommodate them. Feminism is a sensually restrained ideology that opposes ideologies intentionally held to facilitate the domination of male prowess and supremacy. In today's modern era, gender inequality is present in both Western and Eastern countries. As a result, systematized male dominance functioned at the same time, and social structures such as law, education, marriage, employment, religion, etc., were nurtured by cultural practices. However, women's goal is not only to fight for rights but also to give more space to existing male-dominated patriarchal norms. As the French feminist Julia Kristeva states “Women are half the sky”. The shift in the power relations accessible between the two sexes would be equivalent to a community rebellion and the ways regulated by today's world would inevitably be transformed. Therefore the crucial aim of feminism should be that of a new observation of the world, a new technique of knowing ourselves and our world, a new ethical order of meanings. Simon De Beauvoir in his exploratory work "The Second Sex" searches for the primary questions of modern feminism. In a critical undertaking, when a woman struggles to search for her own identity, she attempts to exemplify herself by saying. "I'm a woman." Factual analysis suggests the underlying asymmetry between the terms “male and female”. In fact, both these terms, feminine and masculine, represent "social constructs-models of sexuality and behavior imposed by cultural and social norms". In today's patriarchal society, feminism is a historically specific movement, rooted in Franco-English thought and British liberalism and consequently espoused in a deeply critical style with notions of truth, justice, freedom and equality. Shobhaa De is one of the most popular writers of Indian English literature. A very controversial writer, she is one of those contemporary writers whose works have brought her to great heights of commercial success. Almost all of her novels represent different aspects of female sensitivity in a realistic and metaphorical way. Shobhaa De's novels focus on urban women belonging to the elite class. Shobhaa De's voices express the strains and tensions in a society that is on the path of transition from tradition to modernity. As he writes about upper class society, he presents shocking truths about thepersecution and exploitation, marginalization and commodification of women, thus raising vital questions about women's identity in the modern world. This research paper investigates the study of woman's self-search in Shobhaa De Pensieri's Second. The objective purpose of this research is to focus on the search for the female selfAfterthoughts of Shobhaa De. The problem of the search for identity or "self" is closely intertwined with problems related to the problem of existence. This has been a popular theme among most Indian women fiction writers in English. Each of them tried to outline this idea in their own inimitable style. Shobhaa De is a popular columnist and journalist who, in her frank and candid way, has described delicate aspects of human life. Refusing to be labeled a feminist and preferring to be known as a humanist, she attempted to boldly and truthfully narrate the problems faced by women in a culture that basks in the glory of male superiority. Second Thoughts published in 1996 It is Shobhaa De's seventh consecutive novel. The title of the novel recalls Simon De Beauvoir's revolutionary text “The Second Sex”. If observed closely, it becomes evident that through the title of her novel, Shobhaa De refers to the woman's first thoughts which are controlled and monitored by the rigid values ​​and system prevalent in the society. His first thoughts about life are full of hopes and aspirations, happiness and vigor. However, it is the patriarchal system that makes her unfortunate and abandoned, limiting her desire for freedom and fulfillment. But when he realizes that it is impossible to get happiness from his first thoughts, he turns to second thoughts. Second Thoughts by Shobhaa De tells the story of Maya. He reflects on the hollowness of conventional notions of the institutions of family and marriage. Maya's marriage to Ranjan fails to bring the bliss and happiness she dreamed of in her life. Feeling suffocated and desperate, she turns to Nikhil. It is in Nikhil's lively company, which is a consequence of his second thoughts, that he experiences happiness and fulfillment. Maya's marriage is devoid of charm and excitement. Ranjan's husband is too worried about himself and his job as a promising bank manager. Maya's newlywed wife feels lonely, bored and exasperated by Ranjan's cold and distant attitude towards her. But when her heart starts overflowing with thoughts of Nikhil's love, she no longer feels guilty about Ranjan's impersonal attitude. He takes everything with ease and even finds his behavior funny. She is happy and relaxed knowing that there is someone who loves her. This also makes her feel special. The feeling of inclusion is complete and the feeling of alienation is over. As Simon De Beauvoir says about marriage: “Marriage is a destiny traditionally enshrined in women by society. But marriage is not the same for a man or a woman. The novel, through its story of love and betrayal, exposes the sterility and hypocrisy of the Indian marriage system. De also shows her mature understanding of the female psyche and reveals the sad condition of women torn between the desire for individuality on the one hand and the sense of obligation on the other. Second Thoughts tackles the burning question of women's identity. Identity welcomes into its womb everything that helps to define oneself as "the real me". It ascertains individuality and expresses the way a person thinks about himself, especially his inner self, in contrast to what is perceived by the people around him. Our society is a diverse mix of people and personalities. It is based on some principles that differentiate one man from another.In other words, identity is a joint construct of an individual's personality juxtaposed with the social order to which he or she belongs. Identity is therefore a psychosocial attribute. It is mainly shaped by elements such as social, cultural and political factors, conflicts, dilemmas, educational and sexual issues. Identity is appreciated and desired by all. Shobhaa De's novel Second Thoughts focuses on the identity crisis of its main protagonist Maya. Her identity is marked by negative connotations as a girl from Calcutta. We meet Chitra, Prodipda and Maya in the first part of the novel. They have come to Bombay to meet the Mallik family because they want to offer Maya's proposal as a bride for Ranjan Mallik. Both her mother and uncle want to give Maya her well-deserved identity. A girl's identity is generally based on her relationship with her father, husband or son. Even in Maya's case, her family believes that her alliance with Ranjan, an educated, foreign-backed man, who has a good family background and a decent, respectable job, will lead to a happy and harmonious relationship. Unfortunately, Maya's wedding turns out to be a disaster. Maya does not seem to have an existence in the Mallik family, either as a wife or daughter-in-law. Traditional beliefs strip away her identity as a daughter after marriage. She is just Mrs. Mallik and that is her identity. Maya realizes that in the desire to acquire an identity she has completely lost herself. She expects to be accepted and merged into their family which she can call as her own. Unfortunately, Ranjan guards all the borders and never allows her to be a part of his family. He denies his participation in family matters. She is confined within the four walls of the house with her wings clipped. Maya is enslaved, a prisoner in her own home. Therefore, her freedom is curtailed and her identity is suppressed, and her “Self” is prevented from blossoming as a woman and an individual. He tries hard to lead a normal and healthy relationship with Ranjan as his wife. However, he never manages to create a space to call his own. Ranjan's rude and heartless comments humiliate her. She feels alienated and victimized in her home. Women have remained the target of criticism, mistreatment and censorship for centuries. If she decides to suffer the molt, her state of abandonment is examined and her behavior evaluated to find out if there is something wrong with her for having been assaulted by her husband. She begins to feel claustrophobic in her own home due to the total indifference and hostility of its inhabitants. She longs to be loved and cared for and craves a sense of belonging. Nikhil's friendship and closeness soothe her pain. He then soothes Maya with moments of physical intimacy. It is for the first time that Maya, reluctant and confused, manages to satiate the woman within her. However, this moment of awareness of one's individuality is too short. The news of Nikhil's engagement to Anshu shatters her dreams and she reconciles with home life and loneliness. Maya's self-search is not yet realized. It could be argued here that Maya has to endure the pain and agony of exploitation at the hands of both Ranjan and Nikhil who represent the faces of patriarchy. Both act as obstacles in his path to self-realization. Ranjan marries the simple and innocent Maya at the behest of his mother. Maya is victimized by Ranjan in the guise of marriage as she continues to remain deprived emotionally, socially and sexually. Nikhil takes advantage of her loneliness and fulfills his carefree intentions under the pretext of making his neglected wife, Maya, happy. Maya's innocence is deceived in the name of marriage by Ranjan and love by Nikhil. Maya's subdued and silent journey from innocence.