Masculinity and its depiction in 21st-century literature: A critical study

Abstract

The way in which masculinity is portrayed in literature has changed significantly in the twenty-first century. The conventional ideas of masculinity, which are frequently defined by power, stoicism, and emotional self-control, are being questioned and reinvented more and more. This growth is a reflection of larger cultural trends, such as changing gender roles, a heightened consciousness of intersectionality and diversity, and changing standards around emotional expression and vulnerability. This article examines how masculinity has been portrayed in 21st-century literature, looking at how modern writers interact with and question old masculine ideals in addition to presenting fresh, complex depictions of male identity. Contemporary Indian literature adds to a larger cultural discussion on gender and identity through these varied and nuanced representations. Indian writers contribute to the reshaping and redefining of what it means to be a man in the twenty-first century by providing fresh viewpoints on masculinity, which mirror the rapid shifts in Indian society and culture.