Ethics of Wisdom and Compassion in the Novels by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Abstract

In a variety of her writings, Indian-born Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni who currently resides in Houston, Texas, provides new perspectives to contemporary women’s literature in the United States. Positioned at the interface of various cultures, Divakaruni draws from her Bengali heritage to combine history, myth and magic, together with the respect for diversity that underscores ethics as the foundation of human interactions. Among Divakaruni’s novels, The Mistress of Spices, The Palace of Illusions, The Brotherhood of the Conch trilogy and One Amazing Thing all propose new paradigms of wisdom and compassion that may bring about a better understanding among all.