Symbolic representation of women on literary landscape: Textual analysis of the play 'Black is My Robe'

Abstract

The article aims to explore the symbolic representation of women in Pakistani society and investigates the unconscious nature of patriarchy in which the image of women is painted as a material object. This study is grounded on the textual analysis of Shahid Nadeem’s play “Black is My Robe.” The story revolves around the exchange of a female character named Sundri with an Ox. Shahid Nadeem has employed symbols to unveil the image of a repressed woman in patriarchal society. He has exposed the constructed myths about the submissive status of woman in male-dominant society through his plays in Ajoka theatre. He highlighted certain traditional hierarchies which signify their influence in gender discrepancy and sex stratification in which women is considered just as a property. To highlight these discrepancies, this study is carried out under Sigmund Freud’s theory of subconscious by using the literary technique of symbolism. The study has highlighted man’s desire for prescribing the negation of any gender through symbolization and devoid of anticipating any unpleasant representation. This study concludes with the suggestion to emancipate and empower women and to demolish ridiculous ideals of patriarchy by moral verdicts.