Exploring Constructions of Masculinities in Contemporary Indian Literature: A Critical Analysis of Manu Joseph’s Serious Men

Abstract

This paper examines the construction and negotiation of masculinities in Manu Joseph’s Serious Men, with particular attention to the intersections of caste, class, sexuality, family, and urban social structures. Through the character of Ayyan Mani, a Dalit assistant working in a predominantly Brahmin scientific institution, the novel presents masculinity not as a fixed or coherent identity but as a shifting performance shaped by material deprivation, social hierarchy, professional marginalization, and familial responsibility. Drawing on theoretical perspectives on masculinity, particularly the works of R. W. Connell, Radhika Chopra, Joseph Gelfer, and Robert Bly, the paper explores Ayyan’s attempts to assert authority and masculine self-worth within the chawl, his workplace, and his family. His desire to provide a better life for his wife and son is closely intertwined with his anxieties about caste and class mobility, sexual inadequacy, and social emasculation. The paper also examines the contrasting masculinities represented by the scientists at the Institute, especially Arvind Acharya, revealing how privilege and institutional power shape masculine identity differently from Ayyan’s marginalized position. The representation of women and gender relations further exposes the contradictions within these masculine performances.