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Prostitutes and Fallen Women in the Short Stories of Manto
Get PDFManto, an outstanding figure in the oeuvre of Urdu short fiction, was a true ‘progressive’ who could hold a mirror up to the society more faithfully and brutally than any of his contemporaries. With his fearless championing of the truth, Manto brought an element of realism in the Urdu short stories. Gifted with a sharp clear- eyed acumen and a rare sensitivity, Manto loved to handle bold and unconventional themes. He looked at human nature in all its diversity and had a rare knack for not only viewing darkness and ugliness more acutely than others, but also cherishing goodness and beauty in the midst of wickedness, betrayal and brutality. His legacy constitutes a formidable body of work that focuses mainly on the working class, especially the outcast, the marginalized and the peripheral. Manto wrote with particular empathy about women, especially the sex workers and prostitutes and, in a number of his short stories, sought to explore their human essence and relentless quest for identity and dignity. Being the timeless product of his age, Manto compels repeated returns and revisits to his work. My paper attempts to take into account Manto’s handling of prostitutes and fallen women in his select short stories so as to reveal how Manto views them through a humanistic lens which serves to humanize these fallen women, highlight their predicament and show them in positive light
Exploring Pastoral Themes in The Wind in the Willows: A Celebration of Animal Life in Educational and Riparian Contexts
Get PDFThe present research focuses on the distinctive ways that the animal characters in Kenneth Grahame’s children’s book The Wind in the Willows perceive, navigate, and communicate in a fantasy setting. The interpretation of The Wind in the Willows is around the analysis of pastoral celebration, a topic that is rarely covered in children’s literature. Mole, Rat, Badger, and Toad, the film’s four primary animal characters, go on a series of absurd escapades that typically involve playing around in boats but always come to a close with them returning to their comfortable homes. The stories in the book create an idyllic universe devoid of sex, labor, fierceness, and demise, where relationships, decency, capability, bravery, and compassion are encouraged. The results of this investigation indicate that Arcadia is among the secret grounds that characterize the Golden Age of Children’s Literature and is located along a river in the book. In conclusion, it is hoped that this research will support books for young readers like The Wind in the Willows, which emphasizes letting go of eccentricity and originality to fit in with the group
Compromising with the Situation: Meliorism Manifested in Select Pandemic Fictions
Get PDFA Pandemic is a Global epidemic or disease outbreak. These pandemics are mass murderers since time immemorial as History shows. Diseases like Plague, Smallpox, Influenza and Cholera have ruined families, destroyed towns and left the generations scarred and scared. Since the relationship between Literature and society is axiomatic, it not only throws a mirror to nature but also before men and manners of the age, to the society of the times. Then how will Pandemic fail to appear in the Literature of the times? Nay, whenever such calamities occurred on the earth, the creativity of the then writers had unvarnishedly caught the crisis of the time. The beginning of 2020 witnessed this havoc firstly in Wuhan Hubei province of China and from there grabbed its ‘global networking’ through Europe and many other parts of the world; i.e. Covid- 19 shook the whole world through community transmission, lockdown, quarantine phase, death tallies, Work from Home with salary cut, job loss leading to more hunger and financial crunch. The survivors got to know the gravity of situation resulting in the resurgence of interest in the earlier Pandemic Writing as “it provides us deepest and insightful record of events during Pandemics and tries to provide consolation in times of need” (Smith: 27) since nothing in life is permanent and this tide will also pass is the hopeful tinge above all adversity. So, compromising with the situation and working in the direction of finding out a way and making the situation better is the melioristic theme in all pandemic fictions
Butterflies’ Myth and Cultural Beliefs on the Origin of Nawa Durga Goddesses in West Nepal
Get PDFDifferent views and beliefs can be found regarding the origin of Hindu gods and goddesses on this earth. In many beliefs, animals are mostly associated with the origin and incarnations of these Hindu deities. Many people believe that the small creatures are celestial entities with cultural, mythical, and symbolic significance in human society. They are regarded as the departed people’s souls and spirits in various cultures. The nine sisters of the Hindu goddesses, or Nawa Durga Goddesses, are said to have emerged as nine butterflies from a pit in the Dolpa district of West Nepal. Four of them flew to other places and established themselves as the Goddesses Durga under different names like Kanika Sundari Bhagwati in Sinja of Jumla District, Bageshwori Devi in Nepalganj of Banke District, and Khairabang Bhagwati in Salyan District. Goddesses Bala, Tripura, and Sundari remained in the same place of origin, and one butterfly settled on a nearby hill as a Goddess Malika. People have equal faith in all these goddesses, worshipped by thousands of devotees every year. The investigation’s second focus is on the relationship between the Ram Mandir (temple) and Battisputali (32 butterflies), a locality name with its origins in a forest close to Kathmandu. Based on information collected from secondary sources, several spiritual concepts regarding how the colors of butterflies predict the future of individuals have also been mentioned. This article has been prepared based on interviews, published records, online searches, and site visits to the temple in Kathmandu
A Curse in Disguise?: Reinforcing Toxic Masculinity behind the Façade of Women’s Empowerment in Select Malayalam Movies
Get PDFIn the media realm, there is a complex interplay between representation and influence. While some media might reinforce outdated norms, there are also instances where stories challenge these norms and promote more progressive viewpoints. South Indian cinema has showcased both sides, sometimes reflecting traditional gender dynamics but at other times depicting strong and empowered female characters who break free from restrictive moulds. This study conducts an in-depth analysis of The Great Indian Kitchen (2021) and Jaya Jaya Jaya Hai (2022) to ascertain how toxic masculinity is reinforced through a narrative that seems to advocate women’s empowerment. By closely examining these films, this study identifies a recurring pattern: while these movies portray the growth of women into strong and independent individuals, they often fail to depict any corresponding transformation in men’s attitudes and perspectives. Consequently, this normalized toxic masculinity within the viewership. The onus is on the filmmakers to embrace a balanced and inclusive approach, portraying men as capable of change and growth
Empowering Deaf Students : A Genre Analysis of the film Children of a Lesser God
Get PDFPeople with hearing loss often need special skills to learn language and communicate. The film Children of a Lesser God focuses on the link between hearing impairment and speech. It portrays the way deaf students struggle to gain hospitality in the hearing world. It revolves around a romantic relationship between a deaf girl and a hearing speech teacher. This paper tackles the communicative skills that James achieves with his deaf students and Sarah through genre analysis as an analytic angle. It has been found that James uses innovative teaching techniques to help his deaf students have a better understanding for somatic sensations, such as vibration, playing loud rock music, reading hi lips and interpreting his sign language. Children of a Lesser God delves into the intricate challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss in the realm of language acquisition and communication. This exploration revolves around the romantic relationship between James, a hearing speech teacher, and Sarah, a deaf former student, uncovering the interplay between hearing impairment and expressive language skills. The film also challenges societal attitudes toward deafness, questioning whether it is viewed as a limitation or a distinctive mode of communication. This genre analysis provides a comprehensive examination of how the film surpasses conventional norms of the romance genre while shedding light on the innovative teaching methods employed by James to support his deaf students and his girlfriend, Sarah. The central conflict of the narrative arises from the contrasting communication styles and perceptions of James and Sarah. Sarah’s resistance to conforming to the hearing world presents a unique challenge for James, who endeavors to connect with her through American Sign Language (ASL). The film’s title, Children of a Lesser God, underscores societal attitudes toward the deaf, framing the exploration of autonomy, understanding, and the right to define one’s identity. Beyond the romantic storyline, the narrative expands to address the broader challenges faced by deaf students in their pursuit of education and communication. In light of the limited research on the intersection between films and language pathologies, especially deafness, this study uses genre analysis to explore the film’s distinctive exploration of communication dynamics and educational practices. The primary objectives include examining how the film transcends conventions of the romance genre and deciphering the teaching methods employed by James to empower deaf students
Diaspora in Indian Literature: A Critical Study of Amitav Ghosh’s The Shadow Lines
Get PDFIn the burgeoning field of South Asian Diasporic Writing, Indian Diasporic Writing has the major or maximum contribution. Among others, Amitav Ghosh is a prominent and influential Indian writer who has enriched the genre of Indian Diasporic Writing. Having first-hand experience of migration or movement, he has personally experienced the effects that follow the aftermath of migration. Accordingly, he tries to infuse his personal migratory experiences into his works and produces literary texts that are replete with themes integral to a diasporic text. Homelessness, belongingness, cross-cultural and socio-economic conflicts, nostalgia, dislocation, rootlessness are the primary themes or key elements of his works. Being a writer interested in writing about diasporic or migratory experiences, his works engage in looking on diversity of cultures, languages, people, histories and different places. The proposed paper or study intends to work on tracing out the diasporic elements or diasporic sensibility/consciousness in Ghosh’s novel, The Shadow Lines. The primary focus of the paper lies on exploring the intricacies of migration or displacement and thus highlighting the instability of an immigrant in an alien or a foreign land. The broader theoretical framework for the study shall be provided by the Diaspora studies
Urban Space and Epidemics: Narrative Reflections on Socioeconomic Disparities in The City of Ember
Get PDFThis study delves into the depiction of socioeconomic disparities amidst a city-wide crisis in Jeanne DuPrau’s novel The City of Ember. Framed within the context of epidemics and urban spaces, this research employs a qualitative analysis approach to investigate the representation of social inequality within the narrative framework. The theoretical lens draws upon disaster sociology and social inequality theories to unravel the differential impact of crises on various segments of the city’s populace. The analysis focuses on the experiences of both privileged city inhabitants and marginalized slum dwellers within the constructed urban landscape of The City of Ember. Through close examination of character dynamics, societal structures, and resource allocation within the narrative, this study reveals the stark socioeconomic disparities exacerbated by the crisis. The findings underscore the profound disparities in access to resources, healthcare, and living conditions between the affluent city residents and the marginalized slum population. The narrative reflections within the novel illuminate the compounded vulnerabilities faced by the urban underclass, emphasizing the amplification of existing inequalities during times of crisis. This research contributes to the discourse on epidemic narratives and urban spaces, shedding light on the portrayal of socioeconomic divides in fictional cities amidst catastrophic events. The study advocates for a deeper understanding of societal inequalities within urban contexts, urging for inclusive and equitable disaster preparedness and response strategies to address these disparities in both fictional and real-world settings
Exploring the Significance of Literature: A Humanistic Perspective
Get PDFThis essay critically focuses on the functions of literature in understanding the complexities of human life and society, perceiving cultural values, and evoking aesthetic relish from a literary humanistic approach. It is an attempt to answer two questions: why we should read literature? What are the functions of literature? Basically, literature is a form of art that has multidimensional functions to portray human life and human experience with its artistic pattern and organization that affects the readers in a certain way not only to rethink and feel about others and themselves but also to establish and change their worldviews whether subjective or objective. Though literature offers an alternative world view, it is not limited to ideas or thoughts, as it can reflect on any subjects. The prime object of literature is to depict human life, to delight, and teach humankind through its artistic principles and aesthetic effects and universal appeal – the use of literary language and imagination and affected readers. Literature has humanistic, aesthetic, and psychological roles in the presentation of human nature, wisdom, humanity, morality, resilience, aesthetic pleasure, inner consciousness, and self-restraint. Finally, the value of literature is immense as it a site from where one can write for the change of a dominant ideology by providing an alternative one and enrich himself or herself with wisdom, self-esteem, and inner consciousness
Narrative Structures and Reader Agency in Hypertext Fiction: A Comparative Analysis of selected literary texts
Get PDFHypertext fiction represents a radical departure from traditional storytelling, challenging the conventions of linear narrative and static authorship. This paper investigates the narrative structures and reader agency within this innovative literary form, focusing on Michael Joyce’s Afternoon, a Story and Shelley Jackson’s Patchwork Girl. By engaging with reader-response theory and integrating insights from digital media scholars such as Espen Aarseth, N. Katherine Hayles, and Roland Barthes, the study explores how hypertext fiction empowers readers to navigate fragmented, non-linear narratives and actively construct meaning. Through an in-depth analysis of the mechanics of hypertext, including the function of hyperlinks and narrative fragmentation, the research examines the interplay between textual structure and reader agency. The findings reveal how hypertext fiction redefines authorship, transforming it into a collaborative and decentralized process, while offering new interpretative possibilities that challenge traditional notions of narrative coherence, identity, and interpretation. This study positions hypertext fiction as a pivotal form in the evolving landscape of digital storytelling, shedding light on its capacity to reshape literary practices and reader engagement in the digital age