Women and Feminism: A Discourse Analysis of Contemporary Theories and Islamic Teachings

Modern social activists through media present Islam’s view about women as an oppressed figure linked to her sexuality through so-called liberalism; her oppression is particularly symbolized by obsessive concern with sex, women’s bodies, the veil, and female isolation. While on factual grounds such mind set and groups have oppressed women by judging their worth as persons based on physical attractiveness. Such modern trends and feministic approaches have turned the image of woman as tool of entertainment or attraction. Those who are convinced by such modern values regard woman‘s status in Islam as inferior on the basis of several issues including; guardianship in marriage, polygamy, divorce right. Unfortunately this horrible disease has crept into Muslim societies in the name of cultural interrelation which is in total disregard for our purity and distinguishing values. The magnitude of women rights in Islam with comparison to feminism has been covered in this brief paper. The first part of the paper gives image of women in western society and bases for initiatives taken for feminism movement in west. Second part of the paper gives a comparison between Islamic approach of women rights and feminism. Third part of the paper describes the view of women liberation and modernity in western society. In fourth part of the paper discussion about women oppression has been presented. In fifth part Islamic view of women rights has been given through Quranic verses and references which is followed by findings and conclusion of the whole discussion

Stylistic Devices in Sylvia Plath: A Textual Analysis of 'The Bell Jar' and Selected Poems

Stylistic Devices in Sylvia Plath: A Textual Analysis of 'The Bell Jar' and Selected Poems This research is being conducted to investigate stylistic devices utilized to construct Sylvia Plath’s novel ‘The Bell Jar’ and selective poems from her early and later poetry. The researcher has mainly focused upon the textual analysis of her works. Sylvia Plath holds prominent stance as a post war American Poetess, her works are termed as confessional and slightly auto biographical, comprehensive details of her life are discussed in Chapter 1. Plath’s energy as a writer lies in her personal life experiences, most of her work is autobiographical therefore we are bound to review her personal life to analyze her works. She invested a lot of her energy into writing poetry but her only novel ‘The Bell Jar’ is a poignant prototype of a young women gradually seeping into the realm of mental breakdown. The whole book undergoes symbolism and cynicism in its many layers to unveil the harsh reality of depression and realization of social inequality. Sylvia Plath’s style of writing (in ‘The Bell Jar’) is very simplistic and easy to understand, but is also full of radiant detail..............Sylvia Plath has a pure voice that rings. She is witty. Her words have punch. She paces words well and she uses words well, precisely. A tale of a sane woman in an insane world, or is it anyway a great tale narrated with vivid imagery. The dark humor of the text is a counter to melancholy of the main character. (69:71) This simplistic style is transformed into complicated symbols and metaphors in her poetry. Sylvia Plath is a poet of decadence, death, misery, war, hunger, pain, suffering, angst, anger; passion, animism, and intense scorn are the key images of her works. Her style is also influenced by traditionalists. Her style is narrative and it usually has a first, second or third person narrators. Images of Death and Life for her poems are frequently inculcated in her works. Plath constantly uses metaphors or witty symbols for representation of her ideas. Plath’s works are marred with pessimism, deception, degradation and feministic retaliation towards the unjust hegemony of patriarchic society. Her work presents suffering and sickness for example ‘Cut’, ‘Fever 103 ̊’, ‘Plaster’ and ‘Tulips’. Even in the novel Esther is psychologically disturbed person on the verge of a breakdown, she even struggles to spend a normal healthy life. Though Plath’s works are termed as subjective projections of her own troubled neurotic self, still, her work holds universality of human emotions a feeling experienced by the oppressed classes or gender. The researcher concluded that “The Bell Jar” is a ground basis for her poetry there are many poems which bears references from the novel they will be mentioned in this paper.