Sex, gender and sexuality: A study of Mahesh Dattani’s play ‘Seven Steps Around the Fire’

Abstract

The concept of ‘gender’ is typically placed in opposition to the concept of ‘sex’. While our sex (female/male) is a matter of biology, our gender (feminine/masculine) is a matter of culture. Mahesh Dattani deals with alternative sexuality and tabooed relationship in Seven Steps Around the Fire that unveils the courage of gay, Subramaniyam, who wishes to marry a transgender and faces terrible consequences in this heteronormative world. Discrimination against them is always translated into violence. Dattani, through his play, provides transgender people with a voice and space in English theatres to express their feelings and predicaments. The paper will retrospect the uniqueness of Seven Steps Around the Fire, demonstrating the struggle of transgenders, Kamala, Anarkali, and Champa as a marginalized section of the society with comparative analysis through gender studies and subaltern studies.