Honor, Resistance, and Female Agency: A Critical Examination of A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness

Abstract

This paper critically analyzes the impact of the main character in A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, focusing on her resistance against entrenched patriarchal practices and the issue of honor killings in Pakistan, particularly in Punjab's urban areas. Through Michel Foucault's theory of power relations, the study examines how the protagonist’s defiance challenges repressive social norms by demonstrating that power can flow through multiple channels, disrupting dominant narratives. Additionally, the research borrows insights from Jean-Paul Sartre's existential philosophy to explore how acts of resistance can promote individual autonomy and oppose institutional oppression, emphasizing the capacity for independent decision-making even in oppressive environments. The findings reveal that the protagonist’s actions represent a significant act of subversion, highlighting the complex dynamics of gender politics in Pakistani society. Her resistance not only symbolizes a struggle for autonomy but also sheds light on the broader fight against patriarchal systems. The study recommends further research on similar cases of resistance in other contexts, policy advocacy to strengthen legal protections against honor killings, and the integration of such narratives into educational curricula to foster critical discussions on gender, power, and resistance.