Consent—a word often discussed yet frequently ignored, especially in the context of marriage. In Shashi Deshpande’s powerful short story The Intrusion, this crucial issue is explored through the lens of a newlywed woman who finds herself trapped in a marriage dictated by societal norms rather than personal choice.
This is not just a story. It is a mirror reflecting the disturbing reality of countless women who are forced into relationships without their voices being heard. It speaks of marital rape, emotional neglect, and the suffocating traditions that continue to govern women’s lives, no matter how educated or wealthy their husbands may be.
The Marriage Without a Choice
The protagonist, a young woman, is married off to a rich man—not out of love or companionship, but because he earns well. Her family believes financial security outweighs personal compatibility. There was no courtship, no time to understand each other. Marriage was simply a transaction, a decision made for her, not with her.
From the beginning, she is uneasy. Her new husband is a stranger, yet she is expected to share not just her home but also her body with him. She yearns for time—to know him, to understand him—before moving forward in their relationship. But he does not share this view. For him, marriage automatically grants him rights over her body, dismissing the need for mutual consent.
Consent Is Not a ‘Touch-Me-Not’ Attitude
Throughout the story, her discomfort is palpable. She avoids physical contact, withdrawing from his presence. She seeks space, air—herself—but he sees this as rejection, labeling her behavior a “touch-me-not attitude.” The problem, however, is not her unwillingness to be intimate, but rather his refusal to acknowledge her need for emotional connection before physical closeness.
His touch is not gentle; it is invasive. His whispers are not affectionate; they are commands. When she escapes to the veranda for a moment of peace, he orders her back. There is no space for choice, no room for hesitation—just his entitlement over her.
And then, the inevitable happens.
Marital Rape: The Silent Crime
When he forces himself on her, her world shatters. Her body freezes, her soul recoils, her mind shuts down. This is not love. This is not marriage. This is rape.
Yet, marital rape remains a grey area in many societies, dismissed under the pretext of wifely duty. The husband in The Intrusion embodies this mindset—he sees his actions as his right, not realizing that a wife is not an object, not an obligation, but a person with autonomy over her own body.
At one point, he asks her, “Do you think I am enjoying forcing myself on you?” But this is not a question; it is a statement of realization—one that does not stop him. His actions continue despite his awareness of her discomfort. His ignorance, entitlement, and lack of empathy overpower his ability to respect her boundaries.
The Misunderstood Meaning of Marriage
Marriage is meant to be a partnership—an agreement between two equals, where both individuals have the right to say yes or no. But for centuries, women’s consent has been erased, reduced to mere compliance with societal expectations.
A woman is expected to obey—first her parents, then her husband. She has no ownership over herself. From the moment she is born, her life is dictated by others:
- Before marriage, her family controls her choices.
- After marriage, her husband assumes that control.
The protagonist in The Intrusion represents millions of women whose voices are silenced in the name of tradition. Her body is seen as something to be given away, rather than something she has the right to offer on her own terms.
The Breaking of a Woman
Her experience is not just a violation of her body, but also a destruction of trust, autonomy, and dignity. She is not just raped—she is broken. The walls she had built, the self-respect she wanted to preserve, the trust she had hoped to build—it all crumbles under the weight of his entitlement.
He is an educated man, a wealthy man. But education and money do not equate to respect or humanity. His actions prove that even the most “successful” men can still uphold dangerous patriarchal ideologies—believing that their wealth and status grant them power over a woman’s body.
Why This Story Matters Today
Shashi Deshpande’s The Intrusion is more than just a fictional narrative. It is a harsh reality that continues to exist, especially in societies where arranged marriages still dominate.
This story teaches us that:
- Consent is not optional—especially in marriage.
- A woman is not obligated to surrender her body simply because she is married.
- Emotional intimacy matters just as much as physical closeness.
- A relationship should be built on mutual respect, not forced submission.
Above all, this story forces us to confront a deep-rooted issue: when will women’s choices truly matter?
Final Thoughts
The protagonist of The Intrusion wanted what every human being deserves—the right to choose, the right to be heard, the right to be respected. Instead, she was forced, ignored, and violated.
Her story is not just hers—it belongs to every woman who has ever felt trapped, unheard, or powerless. It serves as a reminder that marriage is not a license to control, and intimacy without consent is nothing but abuse.
Until society acknowledges that a woman’s choice is her own, that her body is hers alone, we will continue to witness countless stories like The Intrusion—real or fictional. And that, in itself, is the greatest tragedy of all.