| Sumario: | This article examines the depiction of failed masculinity in Kiran Nagarkar's Cuckold (1997). Within conventional gender standards, men are often regarded as privileged because hegemonic masculine ideals are inscribed upon them. Yet, despite holding powerful positions, such as kingship, the struggles of men who fail to fulfil socially appointed masculine roles have long remained unnoticed. The intricate interplay of historical, social, and political forces contributes to the rigid construction of masculine norms, marking any breach as a sign of unmanliness, emasculation, or failure. Nagarkar, an Indian author who fuses history and myth, explores this notion of failed masculinity through the fictional Maharaj Kumar, a sixteenth-century Rajput prince. The novel traces his failures across multiple spheres of life and his relentless attempt to align himself with the ideal of a 'manly king.' Through close reading, this article ultimately foregrounds the destiny of a failed man shaped through Maharaj Kumar's character.
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