Women as Victims of Poverty and Patriarchy: A Feminist Study of Gurdial Singh’s Selected novels

Abstract

Gurdial Singh is a renowned and celebrated Punjabi novelist known for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He has to his credit many awards and accolades. He can be called a regional novelist like James Joyce, Thomas Hardy and R. K. Narayan who have presented realistic scenario of their fictional or realistic regions. Gurdial Singh has been the spokesperson of rural agrarian society of Punjab. This research paper deals with his female characters from his works- The Last Flicker, Parsa and The Survivors. He presents a nuanced portrayal of women in patriarchal society. His female characters are traditional yet resilient. They are grounded in rural socio-cultural fabric of agrarian Punjabi society. They are victims of harsh realities, poverty, oppressive social setup, and societal expectations. At the same time, they are epitomes of tolerance and quiet rebellion. The objective of the present research paper is to highlight how the women characters are underrated and their plight has been highlighted with the help of Feminist Theory. Close reading of the texts and evaluation of critical discourses had been the integral part of research methodology. Through his female characters, Singh has emphasized the inner strength of women in comparison to the flawed personalities of male characters. His works also highlight the patriarchal structure of society and how the women are agents of change and societal dynamics. However, Singh's female characters have been critiqued for limiting women’s aspirations within limits of society. Despite this, his portrayal of women is empathetic. Some of his characters are flat but some evolve with story and grow stronger during the course of the plot.