Loving Zarri Bano doesn’t mean he could not love other women. After Zarri Bano being a Holy Woman, Sikander marries Ruby, Zarri’s sister, and he
loves Ruby too. Sikander and Ruby have a son named Haris. However, during his marriage life, Sikander always remembers Zarri. He always thinks about her and
is always envious of every man approaches her. “All I can say in my defence is that I want to marry Zarri Bano
very much- just as I wanted to marry Ruby. I have loved both of your daughters. I don’t know how it was possible to love both
sisters but I have and did Qaisra: 237.”
Citation above is spoken by Sikander to Shahzada when he wants to marry Zarri after Ruby passes away. In addition, he is also an enduring man. He
endurely waits for Zarri Bano from identity transforming, from a Holy woman into a wife.
10. Ruby
Ruby is Habib’s daughter or Zarri’s sister. As her sister, Ruby is physically beautiful and perfect. However, people consider that she is the pale
shadow of Zarri. “She is just as nice and nearly as beautiful. I know you both partial
to Zarri Bano’s beauty, but in looks you can hardly the difference between the two sisters apart from Ruby’s hairstyles and color of
her eyes. …Ruby is very attractive and eligible girl. She is an intelligent, beautiful, graceful woman and has a warm sunny
personality Qaisra: 152.”
Ruby is also Sikander’s wife and Haris’ mother. As Zarri Bano, Ruby also loves Sikander much. Offered marrying Sikander, Ruby forgets about her sister’s
feelings and gets married to Sikander. Because of her love, she is sometimes envious of her sister whom her husband loves.
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
