Representation of Women in Mann O Salwa: A Case Study through Feminist Stylistic Analysis

Abstract

This descriptive study makes an attempt to analyze Mann o Salwa from the perspective of feminist stylistics to investigate how Pakistani female author represents women in her novel Mann o Salwa by utilizing analysis of transitivity choices. This paper argues that the prevailing image of women in Pakistani society and literature is passive, negative, distorted, submissive, and dependent. This research aims to explore whether female authors have succeeded in abolishing the unenthusiastic negative and passive image of women in Pakistani society or their writings are also socially influenced because it is commonly believed that it is always a male author who portrays negative and distorted image of women, in this paper the researcher has tried explore whether female authors present a positive image of women or not. Analysis of mental and material process of female protagonists has proved to be useful in answering the question of negativity and passivity of women. The result revealed that female authors’ writings to some extent are socially influenced. They partially portray them passive and dependent on man. Their actions are actually the reaction of men’s action on them as they are equally exploited by men and other women in society. They are oppressed as well as oppressors. Being a feminist research this study enhances the awareness of the society. Most of the women in the novel are portrayed negative and oppressors.