Societal Representation and Reality: A Hermeneutic Study of Bapsi Sidhwa’s the Pakistani Bride

Abstract

The research paper examines the hermeneutic of Bapsi Sidhwa’s novel – The Pakistani Bride- and the social representations and cultural contexts that shape gender and identity interpretation. Using the main hermeneutic theories of the great philosophers Friedrich Schleiermacher, Hans-Georg Gadamer, and Paul Ricoeur, the project studies the impact of author intentions, reader perception, and historical consciousness. It claims that Sidhwa’s narrative criticizes the practice of variations of patriarchy buying women, while personalities such as Zaitoon reflect the paradox between an individual’s desires and our society’s expectations. The paper highlights the role of cultural and historical context in interpreting themes of the novel, the impact of arranged marriages, and the status of women as an honor symbol. By examining key passages closely, the study describes the complexity of the process whereby identity is formed in the tribal context and raises the broader consequences of the lack of representation in society. In the end, this hermeneutic study enriches the discussion about the issues of gender, culture, and power struggle in literature, demonstrating how the texts by Sidhwa captivate readers in the complex layers of meaning of Sidhwa’s depiction of female experiences.