Veiled Women · Question
How does Veiled Women develop the theme of Superstition and Tradition?
Answer
Veiled Women by Marmaduke Pickthall develops Superstition and Tradition across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Folk beliefs, such as the crow legend, zar ceremonies, and sorcery, are woven into the story, contrasting with both Islamic orthodoxy and Western rationalism, and revealing the persistence of ancient customs in the harem.
The women's crow ritual and belief in a divine petition for marriage rights illustrate traditional superstitions and folk practices.
The consultation with the sorcerer Abu Sumûm and the planned use of magical potions and poison illustrate the deep entanglement of superstition and traditional beliefs in the characters' lives.
Fitnah Khânum's reliance on charms, garlic, and a donkey's thighbone for healing, and her view of the Frankish doctor as a heartless infidel, highlight the tension between traditional remedies and modern medicine.
Evidence in the book
- I
The women's crow ritual and belief in a divine petition for marriage rights illustrate traditional superstitions and folk practices.
- VIII
The consultation with the sorcerer Abu Sumûm and the planned use of magical potions and poison illustrate the deep entanglement of superstition and traditional beliefs in the characters' lives.
- XIV
Fitnah Khânum's reliance on charms, garlic, and a donkey's thighbone for healing, and her view of the Frankish doctor as a heartless infidel, highlight the tension between traditional remedies and modern medicine.
- XIX
The chapter details numerous superstitious practices: protective ceremonies for the infant, the belief in El Carînah, and the zâr exorcism performed by Fitnah Khânum.
- XX
The arrival of Tâhir is seen as a rapturous surprise; the women's excitement and the ritual of Ramadan fasting and breaking the fast are depicted.
- XXII
The cemetery visit, the hiring of mourners, and the distribution of alms illustrate deep-rooted traditions and superstitious practices surrounding death.
- XXIII
Umm ed-Dahak's belief in witchcraft, amulets, and charms contrasts with her worldly wisdom, illustrating the persistence of superstition in daily life.
- XXIV
Umm ed-Dahak's explanations about blood sacrifices and the fatalistic acceptance of child mortality reflect superstition and tradition in the harem.
