Investigating Matriarchal Mimicry of Patriarchy in a Pakistani Novel
In an Eastern society, the institution of matrimony is influenced by social, cultural, psychological, emotional, religious and familial influences. Using concepts of "mimicry" and "the Other" under theoretical stances of mimicry by Bhaba (1994) and "the Other" by Simone De Beauvoir (1956), How it Happened (2013) is investigated in this study. These frameworks explicate the violation and suppression of women in terms of matrimonial affairs in the novel. The findings revealed that the elderly female characters mimic the patriarchal norms by extending them to the next level through matriarchy. It is found that the matriarchy by the elder female characters is authoritative, unchallenged and influential that even the male characters in the novel cannot interfere in the female jurisdiction in matrimonial decisions and verdicts. However, the analysis also revealed that there was sexism in terms of matrimonial choices in which male had the freedom to choose while the female had none.