Discomforted, Ruby slid down under the cotton sheet, ‘Was his imagination running away with her again? She and Sikander were
happily married and expecting their first child. Zarri Bano had nothing to do with her husband. She was literally in another now.
Why then I do still feel jealous of my own sister? Qaisra: 190.
However, that is not the first time for Ruby to be envious of her sister. Ruby was even envious of Zarri when Zarri got a chance to study abroad to Cairo,
Mesr, though Zarri went there as Holy Woman. “Ruby is the last one, but I have lost her too. She is so bereft
without her sister and feels resentful that Zarri Bano was allowed to go and study in Cairo and she wasn’t Qaisra: 121.”
B. The Social Condition of Pakistani Society in the 20
th
Century Represented by the Major Characters, Setting and Conflict
Langland’s statement that characters can represent society clearly indirectly implies that characters can represent a society- not only the physical
environment but also belief, religion and custom. In this subchapter, the writer is going to present some social conditions in Sindh, Pakistan represented by
characters in The Holy Woman.
1. Patriarchal System and Women’s Condition
Patriarchal system esteems male authority by oppressing women. This system occurred in Pakistan in the 20
th
century and is represented in the novel The Holy Woman. Patriarchal system lets male get greater access to and meditation of
resources and rewards of authority structure inside and outside the home. Patriarchal system or patriarchy in Pakistan is represented in this novel.
People in Pakistan judged that a son was the most precious thing in a home and a PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
son was to be the only heir of wealth in a home. In this novel, people also believe in that idea; that man is the most precious commodity in a home.
“In a cultural and land where sons traditionally cherished, an only son was the most precious commodity of all worldly goods for any
father. Hence, to lose your only son was like loosing itself, the worst calamity one’s worst enemy could face Qaisra: 35.”
When a son was venerated in Pakistan, daughter was underestimated. They were weightened the responsibility to maintain family’s izzat or honor. According
to Weiss, superiority of men also appeared in perception that men’s honor resided in the actions the women of their families’ izzat. It signifies that women should
take a great responsibility of their family’s izzat. That responsibility was revealed in limitation of clothing cares, relationship building, attitude, places restrictions
and women’s mobility. This condition is represented by Zarri Bano. Zarri Bano, as well as women in Pakistan, is limited in clothing in order to preserve men’s
honor. Women are badly addressed easier. Citation below proves that this belief exists in this novel.
“Dearest sister, I wish you would make sure that your scarf manages to stay in place on your head when you are outside in a
public places, he nagged her gently. ‘Look at your hair Don’t you ever tie it up? It is not good for a woman to be seen like this Men,
especially Badmash men, give women looks when they are as beautiful as you. You look so wanton It creates a very bad
impression, not only of you but of us and our father. Only naughty women do that sort of thing Qaisra: 4.”
Patriarchal system in this novel is represented by old male characters such like Siraj Din and Habib. They consider women are weak and men’s decisions are
the best. Habib oppresses women in his family, his daughters and his wife. He compels her daughter- Zarri Bano- to be a Holy Woman though he knows that
