Ruby The Characteristic of the Major Character

Zarri Bano wants to marry her fiancee. Shahzadaalso disagrees with Habib’s idea. They try to prevent that idea to realise. He even threatens his wife with divorce. However Habib threatens them and oppresses them. Citation below shows how Habib underestimates his wife and indirectly represents men’s thought in Pakistan. “It can and will happen Do you think that you, a female, can prevent it? The scales are weightened you, woman …. I want you to support me in this. That is your duty as a wife. If you don’t do it, our ancient traditions will outweigh your opposition, so you had better get used to the idea. Remember what I said, I’ll divorce you on the spot if you rebel against us Qaisra: 42.” Siraj Din is also a representation of patriarchal system in this novel. During his life, he attempts to dominate Zulaikha, his wife. Unfortunately, he has never succeeded. He deems men should be the master and men who are dominated by women are foolish. In addition, he believes that men don’t really need women. “At your age, Habib You are nearly sixty Why do you care so much about your wife? You don’t need a wife to live your life …. I learnt from him that a man can make an utter fool of himself, if he pays too much attention to his wife….I would never become a slave to a mere woman. No female was going to have a chance to dominate and humiliate me. My misfortune was that I spent all my life doing that to my wife and yet never quite succeeded Qaisra: 131.” Patriarchal system directly creates female opression. Most female characters in this novel represent women’s oppression in Pakistan. One clear women oppression is the limitation of activities as mentioned before. Female oppression in this novel is represented by Shahzada and Zarri Bano. Shahzada, in this novel, is unable to do anything when her husband determines to marry Zarri PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI Bano to Quran. She wants to do something for her daughter’s happiness; however, society does not support her. There is no way to escape for her daughter. She cannot make her daughter run away or marry her fiancée before the Holy Woman ceremony. Everything seems to give rise to a great scandal which will bring their izzat rumbling down and the family will lose of face. “Zarri Bano had no chance, crushed against this wall of patriarchal tyranny…like her mother; it had been drilled into father’s wishes and those of the male elders. To veto and a sign of moral and social disorder….Qaisra: 48.” Based on conflict experienced Shahzada, it can be said that Shahzada is the representation of women opression in Pakistan. They get discrimination from society ruled by men. In addition, Shahzada and Zarri Bano are also representations of women from high class. High class does not guarantee that they will get less oppression. They even get oppression more than any women from lower class because women from higher class should retain izzat as a rich and high class. She was the chaudarani, the queen of this clan. Yet, in one single stroke, her husband had reduced her to the status of the lowest of the low. Even the fishmonger’s wife had more autonomy and would have been able to battle against her husband’s aggression for her children’s sake. She, on the contrary, was tied to a gilded cage. Even if her husband has weakened under the plea, she couldn’t fight single…handedly against the pressure of his male elders, especially his father… as a woman, she was no consequence- her opinion counted for nothing. A law unto themselves, men’s words are commands, and they were born to be obeyed…. They were always step ahead of you and very adapt at that Qaisra: 47. Getting oppression from men, Pakistani women in the 20 th century endeavored to speak up their voices. They founded women’s associations to defend women’s right. Some women activists or feminist appeared at that time PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI