Social criticism is a mode of approach that expresses the malicious conditions and defects of the social structure. Social criticism interprets the text in the context of various social affairs existing in the current scenario. History, culture and tradition play a prominent role in this critique. Although history and culture are extremely complex and immensely biased, an individual cannot deny them and is forced to rely on them. There is a constant conflict between the individual and society, but the individual strives hard to keep society from ever being a part of it, which is a great irony. “Art is not created in a vacuum,” says critic Wilbur Scott. The exploration of the relationship between the artist and society is best expressed through this social estimation. In this article, an example of a history of sociological criticism is given, based on the two famous works of Hayavadana and Nagamandala by Girish Karnad. These works are rich in symbols allowing us to consider a work of fiction as a social text. At the time when Karnad began writing his plays, Kannada literature was heavily influenced by the renaissance of Western literature. Karnad's play draws on historical and mythological sources to address contemporary themes, the existentialist crisis of modern life through characters locked in psychological and philosophical conflicts. Famous works of Girish Karnad are Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Nagamandala, Yayati, The Fire and The Rain, The Dreams of Tipu Sultan, Bali, A Heap of Broken images, Flowers: A Dramatic Monologue and Wedding album. His plays have universal appeal, effectiveness, thrill and entertainment with socio-cultural questions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It is definitely worth tracing the history of sociology. Sociology only developed in the 19th century. it developed in Europe following the industrial revolution which caused social devastation such as housing shortages, crime and lack of employment. Auguste Comte was the father and founder of sociology and believed that sociologists should be concerned with two problems: order and change. There are two main ideas, one is social statics which says that the overall structure of society remains unchanged. Another is social dynamics which reveals the fact that elements within society change to enable social development. One of the notable early sociologists was Herbert Spencer who coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" which advocated against social reform efforts because they would disrupt the natural balance. evolutionary selection process. This also implements the idea that the best traits of society would survive over time. The name of Karl Marx is essential when discussing sociological questions. He strongly believes in the concept that the structure of society is influenced by the way its economy is organized. Max Weber focused on groups within a society rather than society as a whole. He suggested “putting yourself in someone’s shoes to study the meaning of the individual’s action.” Social perspectives examine patterns of unrest, change, integration, and stability. Ongoing social conflicts are caused by competition for interests and values, power and who gets what, as well as the changes that occur with the shift in power. The role of culture is immense in society. Culture is a product shared byhuman groups in material and immaterial forms. Material culture is the physical object such as books, clothes, utensils, which is exactly in contrast to non-material culture which is abstract creation such as language, beliefs, stereotypes and ideas. Cultural differences found between and within society create cultural diversity. Values ​​determine the character of society and the type of culture it has. Various standards also teach rules and behavior to individuals to teach them how to act in specific situations. Society orders that the rules of behavior are very important and their violation would endanger the fundamental stability of the system. All the daily events and interactions, from birth to death, that make up a person's life are constructed within the walls of society. Sociology can also be considered a social science as it studies human behavior, institutions or functions of human society in a scientific manner. The other social sciences are anthropology, psychology, economics, political science and history. There are three main fundamental sociological lenses, namely social conflict, structural functionalism and symbolic interpretation. This explicitly means that society is made up of power struggles, interlocking systems and shared meanings. Status is a social position that a person occupies within a society. Status also signifies prestige and a part of social identity that facilitates the individual's relationships with others. Status continues to change over time and occupies an individual's life until death. An individual is not only determined by their status, but also classified on the basis of their social class, religion, family background, gender and ethnicity. The problems common to every society in different countries revolve around sexism, racism, inequality and tradition. History, biology and media have a huge impact on society. Social interaction studies the structure of groups, organizations and societies, and how people interact in this context. The ranking system in any particular environment based on authority is called hierarchy, which is a key factor in society. If an individual's behavior deviates from societal norms, then it becomes deviance and is not accepted in society. Karnad has rightly exposed this factor and its consequences in his plays Hayavadana and Nagamandala. Social criticism of literature has been widely practiced rather than recognized as a theory. The main goal of criticism is to encourage positive outcomes and bring balance to our lives, providing a basis for comparison and bringing truth, honesty and intimacy. When criticism is given constructively, it promotes learning and becomes a form of advice to help an individual grow better. The benefits of criticism will help individuals relate well to others, be a more productive person, be happier with themselves, and better understand differences of opinion. An individual must develop the sense of self-esteem and acceptance in order to face the world boldly. Literature, whatever its mystical or fantastic content, is driven by a deep social concern. Hayavadana is Karnad's third play written in 1971, when traditional folk forms of urban drama came into existence. The importance of Hayavadana is based on Thomas Mann's short story The Headstransposed, which Karnad wanted to produce as a film but, with the advice of his friend B.V. Karnath, wrote it as a play. It is also based on Vetal Panchavimsati's version of the story. Karnad follows the style of borrowing from original stories and further developing it with artistic imagination and trying to provide solutions to various unresolved problems in the original story. Hayavadana's subplot is purely Karnad's creation which supports the main plot. Hayavadana speaks about the vital truth of human existence through various socio-cultural and metaphysical aspects. The device of animating an inanimate object is one of Hayavadana's striking features. In other words, Hayavadana is a quest for the integrity and wholeness of man in the existence of a complex society. Hayavadana strived to recreate the spirit without diluting the contemporary appeal. The characters of Transposed Heads Sridaman, his wife Sita and his beloved friend Nanda as well as the characters of Prince Dhavala, his wife Mandasundari and his friend Svetapata owe a lot to the creation of Devadatta, Padmini and Kapila in Hayavadana. This piece expresses the fact that the real problem begins when it actually seems to end. Hayavadana turns out to be a journey on the path of myths and legends of the Hindu religion. It also reflects the cultural system and its constant changes that affect society. The theory of love and friendship runs through continuous perplexity in the play. This game surfaces to find answers to unanswered things. Despite the various limitations posed by society, individual choices to live their lives in their own way are vigorously affirmed. There is a perpetual battle between biological desires and social expectations. The practice of sati is put under observation as to its real value in proving a woman's chastity or simply as an escape of a woman to overcome the harsh realities of the erstwhile tradition. Thus, Hayavadana cannot be grouped into a singular thematic basis rather than broader universal concerns. It also reveals the truth that even if an individual is born into a particular religion, he does not follow all its rituals and superstitions due to the knowledge acquired from other external sources. It mixes the components of love, identity and sexuality with popular culture and imagination. Hayavadana received the Kamala Devi Award from the Bharatiya Natya Sangha in 1972 as the best play. Girish Karnad wrote Nagamanadala in 1988. Nagamandala is not only known for its self-justification, but it is also a form of therapeutic device. The theme of alienation and duality of characters is also inevitable in this play. Karnad created this drama in the priestly sense. Nagamandala is the story of a woman who uses pseudo-magical powers to win her husband. The king cobra is an animal imagery that is the significant element and basis of the story. The king cobra, otherwise known as nagamandala, is the symbol of a woman's carnal pleasure and sensual desires. This piece clearly illustrates the dual nature of the woman who makes herself a devoted and quiet wife in the morning and who takes on the role of a sex doll to satisfy her husband in the evening. It is obvious that only women in society are always questioned on aspects of virginity and sexuality while men are not. The challenge that women face in society is constant and daring. The conflict between the real self and the ideal self is well depicted through Karnad's ideas in the play. Although the incidents of the play are overall complex, the ending is simple and abrupt. The language of Karnadin the play is very rich and it is not possible to interpret the play differently without distorting the original plot and meaning. The incessant search for wholeness culminates in the presentation of a “complete woman” in Nagamandala. It provides a stark contrast between man and snake where a man is devoid of humanity while a simple snake achieves superiority over a man. Karnad uses inanimate objects, particularly flames, having the ability to speak to himself in female voices, which is quite surprising. Inanimate objects reflect animate reality. These flames are not just flames but representatives of society. It also deals with the loose morals practiced in society as well as man's doubts and questions about the religious values ​​preached and practiced for years. Nagamandala comes to life with enormous symbols, obscure meanings, and implicit and explicit lessons captivating audiences scene by scene. The man and woman are questioned about their intimate relationships and their sacramental marriage, to which only the woman is required to answer. The village justice system and the process of deification in Indian society are revealed through the play. Magical folktales serve as a backdrop to express the complexity of social and individual relationships and human life in general. Girish Karnad's significant mark of achievement lies in the use of symbols and depiction of fruitful experiences of the new resurgence in Indian theater history. Nagamandala is considered to be the most creative work ever made and earned him the Sahitya Akadamy Award from the State of Karnataka. The importance and facets of social criticism are extremely vast and vast. Marxist criticism is influenced by sociological criticism which aims to criticize the economic and political elements of art. This criticism is a global term because the psychological approach, gender theories, myths and rituals are inevitably part of it. It is also crucial to know the author's life when analyzing a particular text. The race, nation, and social group to which an author belongs influence his or her work of art. External factors and outside sources serve as a guide in writing literature. The idea for different genres would come from family, history, personal experiences and one's own creativity. Most writers such as George Orwell and Charles Dickens have dramatized the real experience of their lives through their work. Sociologically, many writers have expressed disillusionment with society and human nature. Society acts as a center to which each individual is connected as components. This center strengthens the movement of individuals to act, but at the same time it also restricts the movement. An individual can never change unless the system undergoes a transformation. Society offers many opportunities for progress to the people, but at the same time it stifles the freedom of the individual. When society fails to achieve its goal, it can no longer be the center. The writer whose works contain social discussions hopes to achieve more than just entertain readers. Many writers take responsibility for making their audience aware of certain facts. Age, political scenario and cultural issues can sometimes dominate the entire plot and become the central theme around which all actions revolve. Many social fictions present the truth about situations without injecting the author's personal beliefs and emotions. Typically, authors of social fiction present their characters as simple, ordinary individuals caught in the web of.