Group Members: Saman Alam Noor Fatima Aqsa Qazi Momina Aman Aneela Saddique

Institute of southern Punjab,Multan

TOPIC:Comparison of Feminism in Sylvia plath &

Parveen shaker's poetry

Feminism: “ Feminism is theory that men and

women should be equal politically, economically and socially. ” 

“It is  organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests”

The terms feminism or feminist‖ first appeared in France and The Netherlands in 1872, Great Britain in the 1890s, and the United States in 1910.

Feminist

Feminist One who believes in that men and

women should be equal politically, economically and socially as defined above.

Feminists fight for the equality of women and argue that women should share equally in society’s opportunities and scarce resources.

Waves of Feminism The History of Feminism is dived into three ―waves. The first wave comprised women's suffrage

movements of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, promoting women's right to vote. 

The second wave(1960s-1980) dealt with the inequality of laws, as well as cultural inequalities and the role of women in the society.

The third wave is a continuation of, and a reaction to, the perceived failures of second-wave feminism, beginning in the 1990s.

TYPES OF FEMINISMRadical Feminism

Socialist Feminism

Cultural Feminism

RADACIAL FEMINISM 

Radical feminism is a movement that believes sexism is so deeply rooted in

society that the only cure is to eliminate the concept of gender

completely.

SOCIALIST FEMINISMSocialist feminism is a movement that calls for an end to capitalism through a socialist reformation of our economy.

 Socialist feminism focuses on economics and politics. They might point out the fact

that in the United States women are typically paid only $0.70 for the exact same job that a man would be paid a

dollar for. 

CONTINUE…..

CULTURAL FEMINISMCultural feminism is a movement that points

out how modern society is hurt by encouraging masculine behavior, but society

would benefit by encouraging feminine behavior instead.

Introduction of writersSYLVIA PLATH(1932-1963)

PARVEEN SHAKER(1952-1994)

Early LifeSLYVIA PLATH PERVEEN SHAKER MA from Cambridge. She married Ted

Hughes. They had two children .When she learned of Ted’s infidelity and they separated.

She died tragically on February 11, 1963.

Masters of Arts Ph.D Shakir married doctor,

Syed Naseer Ali, with whom she had a son, but the marriage did not last long and ended in a divorce.

She died in 1994 in a car accident while on her way to work.

WorksSLYVIA PLATH PERVEEN SHAKER

Colossus Ariel her novel "The Bell

Jar“ Winter tress Crossing the water Three women

Khushbu (Fragrance) Sad-e-barg

(Marigold) Khud Kalaami

(Soliloquy) Inkaar (Refusal) Maah-e-Tamaam (Full

Moon)

Twentieth century The American English poet Sylvia Plath

(1932-1963) and Pakistani Urdu poet Parveen Shaker (1952-1994), both are renowned poets of Twentieth century. Both the poets, Sylvia Plath and Parveen Shaker occupy a prominent position in the field of literature. Both have exercised a perpetual influence upon literature. The first half of the century occupies the poetic voice of Sylvia Plath and Parveen Shaker occupies the second half of the century.

Representation of faminism

SYLVIA PLATH PARVEEN SHAKER

Plath is a literary symbol of the women's rights movement of 20th century.

The female speaker represents the creative force and she is angry with the destructive forces symbolized by her daddy and the male.

Shakir can be termed the first poetess to use the word larki (girl) in her works.

The male-dominated Urdu poetry scene seldom employs that word, and uses masculine syntax when talking about the 'lover'.

Focus for Comparison We analyze various aspects of Sylvia Plath and

Parveen Shaker’s life and poetry in the context of feminist theory. Despite the fact both belong to two different countries and cultures, are relative in the matter of gender.

The focus for comparison lies on the feminism to the references of the selected poems from the major poetic work “Ariel” and from “Khushboo”. We have selected Poem “Daddy” from “Ariel” (1965) by Sylvia Plath and “Sirf aik larke”from “Khushboo” (1976) by Parveen Shaker.

Daddy by Sylvia Plath This poem is a very strong expression of

resentment against the male domination of women and also the violence of all kinds for which man is responsible. The speaker expresses her rage against her 'daddy', but daddy himself is a symbol of male.

Daddy by Slyvia Plath The poem begins with the angry attack

on daddy: “you”, “black shoe”, “I have had to kill you”. The name -calling continues: daddy is a ghostly statue, a seal, a German, Hitler himself, a man-crushing engine, a tank driver (Panzer man), a swastika symbol of the Nazi, a devil, a haunting ghost and vampire, and so on.

Example from "Daddy” Plath’s poem ‘Daddy’ is on the theme of

women subjugation and presents the patriarchal culture. The poem also reveals the urge of liberation.

“You do not do, you do not doAny more, black shoeIn which I have lived like a footFor thirty years, poor and white,Barely daring to breathe or Achoo”

Sirf aik larke” by Perveen Shaker

In her free verse poem “Sirf aik larki” (p.92 Khushboo), the Pakistani poet expresses a woman’s imprisonment and her desire to escape from social and cultural convictions. She describes the male dominance in society by using these words:

”umer qaid ke mulzum,Sirf aik larke”

Continue.. Shakir introduced the word larki in her

poetry, the Urdu substitute for the word 'girl,' and one not often seen in Urdu poetry before her time. 

She also expresses her stead-fastness in love

Example “Kash merey par hoteeTerey pass ur aatiKash maen hawa hotiTujh ko chooh k lot aatiMaen naheen magar kuch bhiSangdil riwajoon kAhini hasaroon meinOmar qaid ki mulzimSirf aik larki hoon ”(Mahe Tamam-p.92)

Comparison of styleDADDY SIRF AIK LARKE She used blank verse

poetry even nursery-rhymed. . ‘Daddy’ is her famous poem written in nursery-rhyme-like sound.

“You do not do, you do not do

Any more, black shoe

Shakir employed  free verse.

Most of Shakir's ghazalyaat contain five to ten couplets, often - though not always - inter-related.

Comparison of themeDADDY SIRF AIK LARKE Nature The self Love Feminism Social stigmas Patriarchy

Nature The self love Feminism Social stigmas Patriarchy

Conclusion Both writers wrote her poems in the 1960s, a

time when women were still dominated by men. Within the patriarchal society women had set roles to play; they were to remain in the kitchen and were never to voice an unwanted opinion. The women they portray in their poems felt suffocated within this domestic prison and were desperate to make a role for themselves outside the dominating misogynist rule.

‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ but these women actually proved this.