THE BRIDE

BAPSI SIDHWA
 PRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF GROUP 2
TO THE AUDIENCE OF WUM M.PHIL (2020-2022)

• MAROOF ANWAR 02

• UMME RUBAB 09

• NOBIA ZEHRA 12

• ABEERAH HASSAN 19

• ALINA TAHIR 22

SUPERVISED BY: DR. ASMAT SHEIKH

 PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES

• The aim is to critically evaluate the novel (THE BRIDE)

• To discus the feministic analysis with respect to the piece of literature.

• To familiarize the audience with the key terminologies used in women writing
and then later applying it on the novel
 PRESENTATION CONTENTS

PART 1 PART 2
INTRODUCTION & STORY FEMINISTIC ANALYSIS
1. About Author 1. Important Terminologies
2. Character Analysis of ZAITOON
2. Major Works
3. Symbolism in the Novel
3. List of characters
4. Textual Analysis (Important lines
4. Important Themes from the novel)
5. Story of the Novel 5. Linguistic Analysis of the novel
PART-01
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• Born in Karachi on August 11,1936 (AGE:84)
• Nationality: Pakistani American
• Parsi Family
• B.A from Kinnaird College, Lahore
• She calls herself Panjabi-Parsi Pakistani
• Fluent in Gujrati, Urdu and English
• Notable Award: SITARA E IMTIAZ (1992)
• Writing style: famous for her
ART OF CHARACTERIZATION
 NOTABLE WORKS

• THE CROW EATERS 1978

• THE BRIDE 1981
• ICE CANDY MAN 1988
• AN AMERICAN BRAT 1993
ABOUT THE NOVEL

BOOK: THE BRIDE

AUTHOR: BAPSI SIDWA
PUBLISHER: PENGUIN BOOK INDIA
WRITTEN IN: 1981
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
 LIST OF CHARACTERS
• Zaitoon, the protagonist • Sikander and Zohra,
• Qasim,
Zaitoon’s real parents
the father
• Nusrat, Zaitoon’s friend
• Carol, American Girl
• Mariam, Niika’s wife
• Sakhi, Zaitoon’s husband
• Shahnaz, the dancer
• Nikka Pehlwan, friend of Qasim
• Arbab, • Misri Khan, Qasim’s Cousin
Qasim’s father
• Afshan, • Major Mushtaq
Qasim’s wife
• Resham Khan, Qasim’s father in • Farukh, Carol’s husband
law • Ashiq, military Man
 THEMES IN THE NOVEL
• MAJOR FEMINISTC THEMES
1. Honor Killing
2. Women Repression in Patriarchal society
3. Application of Marxist Feminism
4. Alienation

• MINOR THEMES
1. Post-Colonialism
2. Partition and Migration Crisis
3. Economic Development
 STORYLINE (By Maroof):
Chapter 1-6
• Qasim, a mountain person (tribal person)
• Married when he was 10
• Bride’s father (Resham Khan) was in debt of Arbab (Qasim’s Father) and
consequently he offered his daughter in exchange for money
• Afshan, was forcefully married to him
• She was 16 at that time
• Relationship grew with time
• They became parents to 3 children; one daughter and 2 sons
• A plague kills Qasim’s wife and children when he was 34
• Heartbroken; Qasim travelled to Jullundhar (Norther India)
•3 years passed; riots begin b/w Hindus and Muslim
• Muslims were migrating to Lahore
• Qasim catches a train to Lahore
• A family (including Sikander, Zohra, Munni and younger brother) was in
train
• Sikh attack; massacre
• Qasim was lucky to escape the horrors
• Encountered Munni; he saw her parents died
• He adopted her; reminds him of her own daughter
• He named her ZAITOON after his own blood daughter.
• They both reached Lahore; went to refugee camp

• Met Nikka Phelwan

• A Mutual trust was immediately developed

• Settled in Qilla Gujjar Khan, Lahore

• Nikka took debt from Qasim and started business

• In return, he pays his room rent

• Zaitoon was also taken in care of Nikka’s wife Miriam

• Mariam was childless; happily takes care of Zaitoon

• Zaitoon was growing up

• Had a short memory of being a happy child; past event often haunts her

• She goes to school

• Miriam is against her School Education; she wanted her to learn domestic chores.

• Zaitoon also transforms from child to women

• After hitting the age of puberty; forced to leave school

• It was prohibited for her to play with boys

• Her new assigned tasks; do chores and help other young girls feed and wash their
younger siblings
 STORYLINE By (Umme Rubab): Chapter
7-12

• Blood Money of Chaudhry Sahib’s Enemy to Nikka

• Trip to the Brothel Streets of Hira Mandi

• Nikka’s Imprisonment

• Preparation of Zaitoon’s Wedding

Continue:

• Carol’s Willingness to Marry Farukh

• Zaitoon’s unwillingness to Marry Saki

• Farukh’s Disbelief in his Wife

• Comparison of Nikka And Qasim

 STORYLINE (By Nobia Zehra):
Chapter 13-18

CHAPTER 13
•Carol and Mushtaq went to the other side of the river.
•They spent some time there.
•The tribesmen saw them and laughed.
•Carol felt uncomfortable and humiliated.
CHAPTER 14

• Zaitoon and Qasim reached Kohistan from Lahore.

• Farukh is back from his trip.
• Carol had a sense of guilt regarding the adventurous walk.
• Mushtaq told Carol about Qasim and Zaitoon.
• Carol wants to meet them.
CHAPTER 15
• Zaitoon and Qasim arrived in the sitting room.
• Welcomed by officers.
• Officers asked several questions.
• Qasim told them that he adopted Zaitoon.
• Zaitoon started crying.
• Carol gave her gifts.
• Qasim told Zaitoon will be married to one of his tribesman.
• Qasim and Zaitoon talked about how those people (Carol, officers) are different from them.

CHAPTER 16
• Mushtaq offered help to Zaitoon.
• Qasim, Zaitoon and Ashiq are travelling to Pattan.
• Sakhi saw them together and felt jealous.
CHAPTER 17
• Tribesman gathered to have a glimpse of Zaitoon.
• Qasim scolded them.
• Zaitoon told Qasim that she can not live here.
• Qasim was shocked by her boldness.
• Qasim warned Zaitoon that he had given his word.
• His honour is dearer to him than life.

CHAPTER 18
• Zaitoon and Sakhi got married.
• Next day Sakhi shouted at Zaitoon.
• He recalls the event when Ashiq and Zaitoon were laughing together.
• Qasim is going back to Lahore.
• Zaitoon cried Abba don’t leave me here.
• Qasim comforted her saying you will come to me to have your firstborn.
 STORYLINE By (Abeerah Hassan):
Chapter 19-24
•Departure of Qasim

•After 4 days of their marriage Sakhi resume his work

•Sakhi was furious at the taunt of Yunus“ How is your wife from the plains? You know she requires

a man to control her”

•Sakhi beats his mother.

•Mushtaq meets Carole, she asked him to marry her
•Zaitoon went to bring wood for fire , near river saw jeep ( Ashiq and Major)
•Younas saw her, told Sakhi, he warned her not to go there again
• She went again, sakhi saw her waving her hand to jeep

• Slapped her hard and swinging her pitilessly by the arm as child swings a doll

• Humiliate her and carried her home

• Zaitoon resolved to run away

• Next day to fill empty container, with blanket and some bread went into the unfamiliar hills

• Sakhi came in afternoon, Hamida told him that Zaitoon has gone and start moaning “haye
haye, go and bring her back”

• Sakhi went in search of her and said to himself “ I know that bitch would run away”

• Couldn’t find her

• Sakhi was ashamed, went again by saying “ i will kill her, she was his honor”

• Hamida thought “Everything for honor and another life lost”

• Women were saying “He will be back with the bitch corpse your son honor vindicated”

• Zaitoon started her difficult journey to unknown hills

• Started her journey again (Picked difficult routes, feels safe in night ,not young might died of cold )

• Sakhi was at the bridge waiting for her with carrying weapon

• Fight between Yunus and Sakhi (Cross Dubair)

• Yunus says “ you are fool your honor why didn’t you think of it before you allowed her to run away you
know she’d run away you should slit her throat”(sakhi ashamed)

• Misri Khan meets Major Mushtaq

 STORYLINE (by Alina Tahir):
Chapter 25-30
• With
barely enough food and a blanket, barefoot and ill-clothed she
moves through mountains terrified of being detected and killed.
• A couple of bastards from cheerkhil raped zaitoon.
• Hamida prayed for the end of hunt as to bring back her mournful house
to normal and women talked about magic and witchcraft’s possession
by zaitoon.
• Carolcancelled to go back to states,she encounters there,is indeed
romantic but she too learns the place a woman has in such a society
craved sexually but regarded as an inferior being.
• Finally bruised and bartered, ten days after she crawls to the base of
bridge.

• Her predators too reach the bridge but fortunately she is spotted by
sentries first.

• Sakhi was forced to believe that zaitoon is dead and he tells his
tribesman that he has buried his women with his own hands.

• Thus zaitoon is survived ultimately by Mushtaq.

PART-02
FEMINISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL
 FEMINISTIC ANALYSIS
1. Important Terminologies

2. Character Analysis of ZAITOON

3. Symbolism in the Novel

4. Textual Analysis (Important lines from the novel), Themes and the Style of the
Writer

5. Linguistic Analysis of the novel

IMPORTANT
TERMINOLOGIES
BY UMME RUBAB
 Important Terminologies

• He Inclusive

• Sexism

• Phallagocentrism

• Male Gaze
• Sisterhood vs Sissy behavior

• Stud vs Slud

• Good vs Bad Girls

• Gynotext
Character Analysis of Zaitoon
BY ABEERAH HASSAN
• Sidhwa presents the traumatic and blurred image of women in her novel.
• Sidhwa defines the status of women in Pakistani patriarchal society, as they are
expected to follow the rules imposed by their husbands, fathers and brothers.
• Zaitoon, a Punjabi girl who was adopted by Qasim, a Kohistani from the Himaliyas,
denied her any possibility of education even though she lived in Lahore, where access
to education was not a big issue. . They thought that education was not going to do
anything in her life.
• After starting mansturation at the age of 11, she was not allowed to go to school.
“She is not going to become a baboo or an officer!.....
she will get married and have children”
Poor child…had she a mother she’d be learning to cook and sew..
Does Qasim bhai think he’s rearing a boy? He ought to give some
thought to her marriage…who’d want an educated…” She should learn to
cook, sew and keep her room tidy.
This shows the limited role attributed to women in the patriarchal society
of Pakistan, where education is considered necessary only for men. It
was not safe for Zaitoon to go out for getting education.
• At the age of 16, Zaitoon was forced to marry a person, Sakhi, whom
she did not know. In reality, women were treated like men's territory.
Their relationship was of the colonizing and colonized type. She has not
had the opportunity to reflect and decide her opinion on her marriage.

“ Abba, she sobbed, I don’t want to marry….

Abba, she begged in fierce whisper, ‘take me back. I ‘ll look after
you always. How will you manage without me”
If I must marry, marry me to someone from the plains. The
jawan at the camp, abba, I think he likes me.
Qasim was shocked and furious by the boldness of zaitoon.

“ Now understand this….

I’ve given my word. Your marriage is to be in a week from

today…

I’ve given my word. On it depends my honour. It is dearer

to me than life.

If you besmirch it, I will kill you with my bare hands”

Zaitoon was surprised to hear these words from her father, whom she
believes to be adorable and affectionate. Finally, there was nothing
she could do. As we know, in patriarchal culture women do not have
the right to manifest their will against men. Man decides the models
of her life and she must follow them voluntarily or involuntarily.
• As Qasim sees himself as an owner who is able to decide her fate. The
expression of a conquered land in the novel manifests itself not only through
the institution of marriage but also in all areas of life. The marriage is
celebrated; The banquet was served and, amid laughter and cheers, the groom
was led into the room where his bride was waiting for him. Zaitoon's first
wedding night exposes the animal nature of Sakhi, her husband who has sex
with her. He drags her around like an animal and quenches her sexual thirst.
She was helpless under the retraction and push of the animals. She screams in
pain. Zaitoon was not happy with her marriage as her husband Sakhi had
humiliated, abused and exploited her even over trivial matters. He doesn't
have the feelings of love and emotion, but he is still very callous and cruel to
Zaitoon. At the start of their married life, he shows her a little affection,
but his brother Younus spoils his mind and asks him to control “His wife"
and those words were enough to provoke Sakhi. It shows another image of
our society as how people interfere with other people's lives and make it hell
for them. When Sakhi furiously beats the Ox, his mother tries to stop him, but
he beats her and his wife, who has come to save his mother in law and the Ox.
He hits her and screams,
“you are my woman! I will teach you to obey me!”.(p172) This line
represents the status of woman in a patriarchal society. Woman is
treated as slave by men whether it is her father, husband or son.
“Woman is shown as a territory to be conquered by men”

An Indian critic Makarand Paranjape states,

“it would seem that entire code of honour of the tribe rests on
the notions of sexual superiority and possessiveness” (Dhawan,
1987).
• When Zaitoon escapes from the mountains, her husband Sakhi only cares about his honor, not
his wife's safety. He never thinks of the humiliation he inflicted on her. Eventually, Zaitoon is
raped in the forest by two members of the tribe. It is obvious how useless this creature is in the
eyes of men and how they take advantage of the helplessness and weakness of women. Her
struggle to return to civilized life is simply remarkable. it raises its voice against the male
dominated society and its oppression. She tries to stop this domestic violence by taking
action against Sakhi's spanking. She is trying to fight a society in which a man is judged
controlling a woman. For men, it doesn't matter if a woman is from Western society or
Pakistani society, she is just a woman like Zaitoon .But zaitoon exhibits bravery and courage
that "sustains a challenge to the patriarchal structure" (Ross, 1991). Her efforts to flee the
tribal areas and her cruel husband Sakhi are a victory over male figures who see women as their
extension.
SYMBOLISM IN THE BRIDE
BY ALINA TAHIR
 Title_ “the bride”
• The title of this novel lies heavy with irony To be “ the bride” in a patriarchal
society that demeans women translates into bondage__ sometimes subtle, other
times total.

• Zaitoon remains a marked woman who can never return home, for she has failed
as “the bride”.

• The Bride is about” strength of nature…a farce, perhaps of God, within one”
human being.
 Zaitoon as a Symbol:
• Zaitoon is a symbol of women not only fighting oppression in Pakistan but of human spirit
struggling against all physical odds to survive and maintain integrity.

• Zaitoon represents 'khudi’ or mental or spiritual strength of human kind, indefatigable,

indomitable and irrepressible.

• She represents the triumph of mind over matter of spirit over flesh.

“Khudi ko kar buland itna

Kah har taqdeer se phale

Khuda bandy se khud pochay

Bata teri raza kia ha”

 Bridge and River:
• Bridge is the symbol of divide between two cultures, two ways of life on either side of river.

• A bridge has been built to connect to kohistan. The kohistanis’ have not changed their identities or
their way of life

• The bridge is guarded by army and each side displays hostility and fear towards other. It does not
become an instrument of unification.

• The river marked as boundary between tribal area and the army. The world of zaitoon is across the
river on the side of army.

• She is familiar with it and yearns to move back to it.

 Partition:
• Zaitoon is a child of partition.

• Sidhwa has highlighted the effect of partition in “The Bride”.

• Sidhwa has poignantly portrayed the misery caused by the holocaust of partition.

• She had laid bare the tradition of people of kohistan and shown how in spite of global
changes, the kohistanis’ have remained in the same position as they were since the
beginning.

• Sidhwa suggests that though Pakistan gained it’s independence in 1947 , woman still
continue their struggle for freedom.
 Valued commodities_ not individual
• In the very first chapter of the novel,sidhwa shows how tribal society regards woman
as valuable commodities.

• “Any girl was worth more than the loan due”.Women are used to be bartered and
traded in tribal society.

• Afshan, the daughter of Resham khan,was given as a commodity to Arbab in order

pay his loan who was later married to Qasim,a boy of 10.

• Afshan has no choice but to accept Qasim as her husband.

 Marriage
• Marriage for them is transection of a body not based on mutual understanding.

• Women’s personal freedom and body is suppressed by the institution of marriage.

• At the time of Afshan and Qasim’s marriage,she was not ready to accept him as a husband verbally rather an old

aunt”Thrice she asked if they would accept Qasim..as her husband and thrice an old aunt murured…'yes’ on her

behalf”.

• And when Zaitoon was grown ten years Murriam has the view that “ she will be safe only at her mother’s in

law’s….Ask girl is never too young to marry”.

• Through this loyal institution of marriage, zaitoon is forced to marry a person,whom she does not know.women

are treated as a territory of men.

 Burka:
• To Sidhwa ,Burka is the symbol of ultimate silence and shadow. Wearing a burka,
Zaitoon can walk near her father unrecognized.

• When carol gets offended by the states of some tribal men ,she sarcastically says,…
“Maybe I should wear a Burka”.

• One supposition of this statois that this world of shadow can hide her and shifting her
to an anonymous part of the womenkind.

• Purdah stands for seclusion or separation of sexes .

 Silence:
• Silent taken as a symbol of agreement,a bodily gesture like a slight nod of head
categorized as agreement, as depriving women of their voice , especially in regyto
marriage in patriarchal society.

• Further silence is also symbol of modesty as Afshan though secretly excited about
her marriage but maintains her sileias an act of modesty behavior and purdah ,serves
to strengthen male domination over female body and desires.

• Zaitoon, also schooled in concept of silence. when carol asks her about her marriage
she becomes shy and modest and Farrukh appreciates Zaitoon’s silence by explaining
carol “our women, particularly the young girls, are modest ,you know”.
 Red spot:
• A red spot on Zaitoon’s clothes is symbolic of women’s pitiable condition in
Pakistan.

• “A red spot spreads on the cloth between her thighs.She folded her legs quickly and
covered the stain with the front of her shirt, printed with fades lavender flowers,it
was torn down the front and at the shoulders”.

• A few years later , Afshan is nearly raped by a stranger when he sees her
bathing,protected by Qaism who is only a boy.
 The zenana:

• The zenana can be seen as a shelter from the male world.

• But this also gives emphasis over the gender apartheid in Pakistani culture.The
positive, soft and sheltering concept of Zenana is overshadowed by its image as a
prison.

• Sidhwa uses the image of the crippled but flying bird to emphasize the condition of
Zaitoon. such a bird can not be easily caged or tamed even if it is maimed.
 The Mad Woman:

• The Mad Woman at the Lawrence Garden is a horrible image

of exploitation of women.
 Double standards in defining the rules of Pardah:
• Qasim lowers his eyes before Nikkah’s wife assigning respect,but both Qasim and
Nikkah have no qualms about visiting a prostitute and paying her naked before him.
• As Jane comments, “ living or dead, assertive or passive it is the men who are the
center of the novel , dividing property, violating women, indulging in polygamy or
visiting prostitutes,they define line of action and limit of purdah”.
• Similar attitude displayed by tribal men who like to keep their women restricted
within the courtyards of their homes but boldly stare at Carol when they see her
with Major Mushtaq.
• When Zaitoon and Qasim resume their journey along with Ashiq as punjabi jawan,
Zaitoon becomes center of attention of nearly all men.Qasim and Ashiq both
infuriated by their behavior.
SYEDAH NOBIA ZEHRA
ROLL NO. 12
THE BRIDE
BAPSI SIDHWA
TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
THEMES
WRITER’S STYLE
 TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

• Resham khan has promised us his daughter! –Arbab Ch. 1 P. 1

• Any girl-and he had made sure that this one was able-bodied-was worth
more than the loan due. -Ch. 1 P. 1

• Status of woman as commodities to be traded.

• Marriage as bargain.
• Woman as a product of transaction.
• Ineradicable tribal norms.
• Marriages for resolving fights or debts.
• Sidhwa here questioned the foundation of marriage.
 • Thrice she was asked if she would accept Qasim, the son of Arbab, as
her husband and thrice an old aunt murmured ‘yes’ on her behalf –
Ch.1 P.1

• Issue of forced marriages and underage marriages.

• Qasim was ten when he got married and Afshan was fifteen.
• Both have no option.
• Deep rooted cultural norm.
‘Poor child….had she a mother she’d be learning to cook and sew….does Bhai Qasim
think he’s rearing a boy? He ought to give some thought to her marriage….who’d
want an educated’….’she’ll be safe only at her mother-in-law’s….A girl is never too
young to marry….’ –Miriam Ch. 6 P. 45
• Gender roles.
• Society assign us roles.
• Society-made rules.
• Reflection of Miriam’s mentality as her mindset is conditioned in a patriachal society.
• Limitation of woman’s role to domestic sphere.

The soldiers, satisfied with the glimpse and somewhat abashed by the reprimand,
moved away, but the tribals hung around the wire-mesh window peering in as at
animals in a cage. –Ch 17 P. 138
• Staring at Zaitoon.
• Objectification of woman.
• Woman as object of male gratification.
• Highlighting a degenerate trait.
‘I’ve given my word. On it depends my honour. It is dearer to me than life. If you
besmirch it, I will kill you with my bare hands.’ –Qasim Ch 17 P. 143
• Proprierorial attitude.
• Girls are forced to follow rules set by their fathers.
• Tyrant figures.
• Honour-based practices.
• Words like ‘shame’ and ‘honour’ are only associated with woman
• Man has all the control over woman life from an early age.
Abba, I am not of the hills. I am not of your tribe. –Zaitoon Ch 15 P. 128
‘Abba, take me to the plains when you go. Please, don’t leave me here. Take me with you.’
–Zaitoon Ch. 17 P. 142
• Concept of feminine consciousness.
• Zaitoon was aware of the situation.
• Depicts her strength.
• Sidhwa portrayed the beclouded image of woman.
• Gave voice to pain.
‘I’ll teach you, ‘he hissed.’ I’ll teach you meddling women. You think you can
make a fool of me? Do you?’ –Sakhi. The blow caught her shoulder. She scambled
like a crab down the sloping terrain.. Sakhi struk her on her thighs, on her head,
shouting, ‘You are my woman. I’ll teach you to obey me!’ –Sakhi Ch. 19 P. 157
• Sakhi beats both his mother and wife.
• No respect for woman.
• Showing physical power seen as a symbol of manhood.
• Treating women in an inhumane way.
• An authoritative proclamation out of possession.
Sakhi seized her. He dragged her along the crag. He slapped her hard, and swinging her
pitilessly by the arm, as a child swings a doll. He flung her from him. –Ch. 21 P. 169,170
• Zaitoon is humiliated and exploited both mentally and physically.
• Wife as a symbol of status.
• Physical abuse as a common practice.
• Woman as conquered land.

THEMES
• PESSIMISM
Zaitoon has lost her parents, Miriam and Nikka are childless, Female characters are oppressed.
• PHYSICAL ABUSE
Sakhi often beats Zaitoon.
• OBJECTIFICATION OF WOMEN
Tribals staring at Zaitoon.
• TRIBAL NORMS
Marriage as transaction.
• WOMEN OPPRESSION
All women in the noval relate to each other. All are different yet same; living life ruled by
men.
• HYPOCRISY
Male characters pretend as they care a lot about their woman.
• MARTIAL RAPE
Crave women for physical pleasures.
• PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY
Men hold control over women’s life.
 BAPSI’S WRITING STYLE

• USE OF URDU WORDS, PHRASES AND POETRY

Hai, maaf ker Ch.5 P.36, Takhti Ch.6 P.44, Buch key! Ch.10 P.86, Tumhara shadi honay ka
hai? Ch.15 P.121, Toba Ch.15 P.127, Roti Ch.26 P.198, Paratha Ch.30 P.219, Toba, Toba
Ch.29 P.214, Baray Mian Ch.12 P.137, Poetry Ch.28 P.212.
• STRONG NATURAL IMAGERY
• REPITITION OF WORDS AAND PHRASES
Great! Great! Ch.8 P.69
Never! Never! Ch.20 P.164
• DIRECT
• HARSH WORDS
• STRONG USE OF PUNCTUATION MARKS
Ellipses, Dashes, Hyphens, Brackets etc.
LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL
BY MAROOF ANWAR
 LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL
• LANGUAGE AND GENDER

• BODY LANGUAGE AND GENDER

• VERBAL AGRESSION

• WOMEN AS COMMODITY

• SUBJUGATION OF WOMEN

• FEMINISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE VERSES OF IQBAL

 LANGUAGE AND GENDER

• Area of study which investigates a speech which is associated with particular gender.

• In other words, how a particular gender uses language.

• The speech of Qasim, Nikka and Sakhi particularly shows how being men, they
exercise power and control over other gender

you are my woman! I will teach you to obey me. (Sakhi)

• In contrast women, in the novel, exercise obedience thorough their speech.

When asked about marriage, Zaitoon said, “ANYTHING YOU SAY, ABBA”
 BODY LANGUAGE
• How a body language tells a lot about the troubles of a women.

• In an instance Carol sees through Zaitoon by her body language.

“In an instant their eyes met, the green and black of their irises fused in an age old
communion- an understanding they shared of their vulnerabilities as a woman. For
an intuitive instance Carol felt herself submerged in the helpless drift of Zaitoon’s life.
Free Will! She thought contemptuously, recalling heated discussions with her friends
on campus. This girl had no more control over her destiny than a caged animal-
perhaps-neither had she.”
 VERBAL AGRESSION
• Shown mostly by men in form of
1. Shouting
2. Angry talk
3. Fighting…

• Sakhi shouts on women of his family; often he is ready to fight.

• Angry talk is evident in the dialogues when he is talking to Carol.
• Nikka is verbally abusive in Qilla Gujjar; people are afraid of him.
 WOMEN AS COMMODITY
• Many instances occur in novel where men treated women as commodity.
The girl’s run away. The whole bloody clan’s out hunting her. I only
hope luck holds.
HUNTING HER? What would they do when they find her?
Beat her up. Probably kill her.

“You’ll be fetching home a lovely girl”

• Look for the choices of words.
 WOMANHOOD

• Subjugation done one at various levels ( social, economic and verbal level)

• Women education is taken for granted

What will she do with more reading and writing—boil and drink it

• Journey into womanhood

.You are now a woman. Don’t play with boys
FEMINISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE VERSES OF
IQBAL

Khudi ko kr buland itna

Heighten your khudi to such majesty
Ke har taqdeer se pahaylay
That before every turn of fate
Khuda banday se khud poochay
God himself asks man-
Buta teri raza kya hai?
Tell me, what do you wish?
 FEMINISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE
VERSES OF IQBAL

• These verses were interpreted by Carol as

‘It is like a prayer’, said Carol

‘It is.’
You know, the girl who ran away? I think she forced her destiny; exercised her
“Khudi”. I am sure she will make it.

• What it is a woman can’t do if she is willing to take a step.

 CONCLUSION

• The story of the novel along with themes and characters are discussed

• Feministic Analysis has been the main focus of the presentation

• In the novel, the Bride, we have seen the struggles of Zaitoon and in the journey
how she has evolved as a women.

• The patriarchal mindset has been noticed and analyzed from women’s point of
view
Q/A SESSION
ASK ANYTHING THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC!
GRACIAS!
THANK-YOU 