Balancing the Gender: Unfolding women’s voices in Haque’s Sand in the Castle

Abstract

This research intends to investigate how the language choices in Sand in the Castle (Haque, 2010) depict sexual objectification, identity crises, discrimination, emotional trauma, and revolt. The investigation is discourse-based which incorporates Islamic Feminism (Mernissi 1991, 2011) to explore how sexual objectification, identity crises, discrimination, emotional trauma, and revolt are shown in the chosen text. It is designed within the larger paradigm of discourse analytical research. Additionally, it makes use of the Transitivity System (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004), which examines the linguistic choices made by the author in the data gathered as the theoretical foundation. The methodology works out on discourse formation level which shapes individuals and when integrating back into society they express these ideologies in a consistent manner. The study demonstrates that language choices were made according to the process types, participants, and circumstances. Women have always been portrayed as being weak, oppressed, victims, marginalized, and laborers who never assert their rights. The male characters' language and actions have an impact on the female characters' attitudes and behaviours in a way that makes them feel obligated to comply with their demands. The female characters' views are constructed in such a way that they feel compelled to represent themselves as a puppet in the hands of fate. The female characters, on the other hand, have shown themselves to be rebellious and powerful despite going through a lot of pain and marginalization. When society permitted it, they portrayed their abilities and demonstrated that they are better able to manage challenging circumstances.