Cultural Identity and Societal Realities in “The Bride” Novel: A Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze the novel "The Bride" by Bapsi Sidhwa from a feminist critical discourse perspective. The novel explores the cultural identity and societal realities faced by women in Pakistan. It is set during the Partition of India in 1947 and focuses on a young bride named Lenny. The abstract will provide a brief overview of the key themes and concepts that will be analyzed in the thesis such as patriarchy, gender roles, and women's oppression within the cultural and social contexts portrayed in the novel. It will discuss how traditional customs around marriage, purdah, and family honor restrict women's agency and independence. Feminist critical discourse analysis will be applied to examine how language and narrative techniques are used in the novel to shed light on issues like domestic violence, forced marriages, and the dominance of patriarchal values that marginalize women. Dialogues, characterization, and symbols will be closely studied to understand how power relations between genders are implicitly affirmed through discourse. The analysis also aims to highlight Lenny's journey of self-discovery and rebellion against oppressive social norms. It will argue that through its portrayal of a young bride navigating social and political upheaval, the novel comments on the complex interplay between cultural identity formation and women's experiences of societal realities. In conclusion, the abstract previews how the thesis adheres to a feminist framework to critically analyze "The Bride's" depiction of the struggles faced by women in establishing autonomy within cultural and patriarchal constraints in post-colonial Pakistan