Faces behind faces
Loading...
Date
2021
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UMT, Lahore
Abstract
The paper posits the analysis and interpretation of how the culture of the courtesans was developed and how it is represented in Asian literature. The matter at hand will be dealt with reference to two major novels, one from the Indian courtesan culture and the other from Japanese culture. The Japanese culture will be represented with reference to the novel autobiography of a geisha by Sayo Masuda and the Indian courtesan culture will be represented by the novel Umrao Jan Ada by Mirza Hadi Ruswa. The paper shall delve into these two novels to trace the differences in the culture of the courtesans between Japan and India and how these cultures are still persistent in these areas. These texts will also be analyzed with the question in mind as to why the courtesans are pushed to the periphery of the society. These issues shall be analyzed with the theoretical framework of feminism, mainly “the second sex” by Simone De Beauvoir. The misrepresentation of the female experience will be used to analyze whether the novel portrays a true female experience or not, essays like the second sex may be used for its interpretation. Moreover, the importance of the courtesans and how that importance and portrayal changed with the British regime will be discussed under the Indian courtesan culture and that too of nautch girls.