Feudalism The Social Condition of Pakistani Society in the 20

C. The Social Criticism toward Pakistani Society in the 20

th Century By using characters, setting and conflict that represent social condition in Pakistan, Qaisra presents her criticism toward Pakistani society in the 20 th century. Social institutions criticised by Qaisra are patriarchy, marriage system, the religion and tradition, feudalism and pride.

1. Patriarchal System and Women’s Condition

In this novel, Qaisra criticises patriarchal system which is usually related to feudalism. In patriarchal system, men usually underestimate women. They always oppress women and threaten them by using tradition or law men made. Through character of Habib and Siraj Din, Qaisra offers her view on patriarchal system. Habib oppresses his daughters and his wife to do everything he asks. He threatens them using something very offensive for women. He threatens his wife three thalaks or divorce because she rebels him in holding the Holy Woman tradition. He also psychologically insults Zarri Bano of marriage. “What you are trying to say is that you want a man in your life...You can shout as much as you like, my proud, beloved daughter, but you will do as I say- I know you will. You will never let me down, I know, nor our traditions, nor your grandfather….” Her father had set a trap and had captured her neatly, using sexuality as ammunition. Zarri Bano physically recoiled, holding her arms against her chest as she recalled her own feelings for Sikander. Yes she desired him much but her father had cheapened and degraded marriage and what it stood for, insulting both her and the essence of her womanhood by his underlying insinuation that what she really craved was a man’s presence in her life Qaisra: 55. Moreover, men also regard women in their life as puppies which they can use arbitrarily. They admit that women are weaker and men are stronger. They are the best in all things, especially in making decision. They will not be inferior and be defeated by women. Siraj Din is one character showing this paradigm. He believes that he does not need any women to live his life. However, Qaisra tries to propose new view on patriarchy’s effect by presenting characters Habib and Siraj Din who are represented differently from men in reality. At first, Habib and Siraj Din do oppress women and believe that men do not need any women; nevertheless, at last he shows how weak men are without women. After forcing her daughter to be a Holy Woman, his wife and his daughter ignore Habib. From then on, he is being feeble and miserable. Realising that he has done wrong he bends on his knees to ask apology from his wife. What happened next startled both of them. Habib jumped off the bed and went over to Shahzada, kneeling in front of her on the floor, clasping her feet in supplication. “I have learned to transcend my male ego, Shahzada, and to humble. It is that humility which has reduced me to come crawling to your feet. No man, no husband of my calibre would ever do that. You must recognize and appreciate that Qaisra: 200.” Kneeling down to Shahzada is not only done by Habib but also by Siraj Din, the eldest landlords in that village. In patriarchal society, kneeling down to ask apology from women was an action humiliating their pride as men. Having that fact, Qaisra seems to criticise men in patriarchy who defend to be independent and to be the best one. However, men do need women in their life. Moreover, patriarchy suffers not only women, as having been understood so far, but also men. Furthermore, Qaisra also suggests that patriarchy’s view is totally incorrect. Patriarchy always believes that men are stronger and women are PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI weaker. However, in this novel Qaisra presents female characters that show their efforts. Zarri Bano is enforced to be a Holy Woman. However, she succeeds in handling her new identity. She loves her religion, her new role and her new style which are very contrast to her previous life. The same thing also happens in Fatima’s life. She keeps struggling to fulfill her family need since her husband has been a handicap. Those are in contrast to what happens to Habib who is weak when he meets his wife’s and his daughter’s hatred. However Qaisra also criticises men in Pakistan who also become victim of this system. This criticism is represented by Khawar and Sikander, male characters in this novel. They cannot determine their own marriages. They as men even do not have voice to speak up their ideas and they do nothing to revise that situation. Moreover, they have already known that women get opression but they also cannot do anything. Another social issue criticised in this novel is the Pakistani women in the 20 th century in Pakistan. There were so many women joining these women’s movements in Pakistan at that time. They hoped to get betterment in their life as women. In fact, Qaisra recommends her criticism toward women in Pakistan. According to her, women’s movements are useless if women in Pakistan are still bound by tradition and ruled by men in their life. By using character Zarri Bano, Qaisra criticises Pakistani women. She is an independent woman. She attempts to be equal to men. She always pretends that she is an independent woman and cherishes freedom. However, she is shaped by his father; she is bound to tradition men made. Her decision is affected by men in her life. When she is requested to PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI be the Holy Woman, though at first she refuses it, she accedes to her father’s request, to be Holy Woman. Citation below proves that idea. “I woke up to find that books, feminism, campaigns and education are all utterly useless against patriarchal tyranny of our feudal landlords. Stupidly, I had convinced myself that as an educated, urban, upper-class woman, I was different from those ‘poor’ women, lower down the strata of our society, who had to do as they were told…Qaisra: 115.” In other words, Qaisra criticises that feminism and education in Pakistan are still useless in breaking patriarchy off if women are still tied to tradition, clan and role of obedient as a woman. Moreover, Qaisra also criticises high class women who join women’s movement in Pakistan. As long as they do not really feel or know the position of low class women, they cannot struggle for those women. At last, it makes the movements are more useless. Even though Qaisra seems to criticise education as something which cannot break the patriarchy, Qaisra in this novel offers her expectation on education. She hopes that women in Pakistan can get equal education as men for betterment in their life. She presents her expectation through Fatima’s speech below, “Don’t forget education, Kulsoom Jee,” Fatima teased…I am all for women working. Have you forgotten, I myself have worked for so long and raised a family? My Firdaus works and I do not expect her to give it up once she is married. I didn’t pay thousands of rupees on her for it all go to waste, for her just to stay at….No a woman needs her own life, a sense of independence and to feel valued. To have achieved something Qaisra: 288.”