Themes of “A TRUE PRINCESS” BY MUNEEZA SHAMSIE

Themes of

“A TRUE PRINCESS”

BY MUNEEZA SHAMSIE

                 A True Princess is a very unique story by Muneeza Shamsie which has been written in the backdrop of Partition. After analyzing the story, following themes have been found.

1.        JEALOUSY is a dominant theme which may be observed in whole story. This theme has been discussed through the characters of Suraya with sister and with Aalia, and Jealousy of Second wife of Nawab with Amma Huzor

Textual Reference        

              “Soraya's elder sister, Saphia, had looked a lot like their mother, everyone said. Soraya didn't agree. Saphia's eyes had been brown; her short hair wavy, not curly; her features more finely chiselled. Of course Soraya was dark and not in the least beautiful. At thirty three, two grey hairs had already revealed themselves in her long plait. Soraya often wished there were no mirrors in the house at all.(p113)”

Jealousy of Soraya with Alia on last page of story

 Jealousy of Second wife of Nawab with Amma Hazoor.

Textual Reference “She kicked out of Amma from Nawabs fort.”

2.            CLASS STRATIFICATION

Class stratification is also a major theme which may be observed when Amma Huzoor refused the proposal of Totoo for Soray due to their humble lineage and she does not even care that Soraya too agree to marry with Totoo.

Textual Reference

“`A proposal? Who were they to come to Us and propose, as if they were Our equals? What did they think? That just because you have diabetes and no education We'd be willing to dump you on the garbage heap? They have no background. Their son wasn't earning anything. He was absolute scum, the lowest of the low, the way he turned your head and made you his slave.'(119)”

“What made you so forget yourself andyour family honour, that you were ready to elope with him?(119)

      3.               GENERATION GAP

The clash between Amma Huzoor and Soraya indicates the generation gap. Amma Huzoor follows traditional and conventional ways while sorya and saphia follow modern pattern which is major reason of conflict.

Cultural Clash (Modernization)

Saphia’s attitude and western life style over traditional ways.

4.      Post Colonialism: Partition and its consequences

5.      Polygamy:  Cruelty of dual marriage is also a major theme which has been described through the character of Nawab

                 6.           IMAGINATION VS REALITY, sorya in Amma Hazoor’s palanquins (imagination and dreams…. Page 1 para 1)

Textual Reference:

`”The trouble with your Amma Huzoor is that she's never got over being married to a Nawab,' he said. 'She lives in a fantasy world which has nothing to do with reality. Your sister's not too different from all that I hear. I believe she's a terrible snob(118)”

7.            CONSPIRACY AND HYPOCRISY:   The second wife of Nawab conspires against Amma Huzoor that she is planning to take over and murder nawab. The only reason behind that was, she wants to get rid off Amma Huzoor to rule over Sikandar Bagh. However, Amma Huzoor was not like that.

Textual Reference

“That Woman, his new wife, had persuaded him that Amma Huzoor planned to murder him and rule as Regent in the name of her baby son”(113).  

8.            Change: Muneeza Shamsie has interwoven the theme of change as it’s a universal phenomenon

9.            Symbolism…… amma hazoor symbolizes the downfall of Muslim civilization while Nawab and his Son symbolize British rule

“She always said she considered herself fortunate to have escaped to Pakistan, the new Muslim homeland created by the division of India in 1947”

10.          USE OF SIMILEY.

Muneeza Shamsie has perfectly used the Simileys to enhance the beauty and sensational effect of the story.

Textual Reference : Her Kashmiri mother, with her defiant green eyes had resembled Vivien Leigh (p113)

Prepared by S.A. Gillani