Ice-Candy Man highlights feminist concerns
Partition of
Indian sub-continent has always remained a concerning topic for a number of
writers of India as well as of Pakistan. But most of the works in both the
lands are male-dominated.
One finds
bravery, chivalry, heroism etc associated with the male protagonists only.
Female is represented as a subdued and dependent being. Ice Candy Man is
distinguished from most of the popular works as it focuses on female rather
than on the man.
The story of
partition is represented through the eyes of Lenny, who is lame. This
disability of her also signifies the problems that a female writer faces while
representing her views. Lenny, an eight-year-old child is the protagonist of
the novel. She is innocent and unaware of the bitter differences among
different communities. This can be judged on the basis of the fact that she is
much attached to Shanta Devi, who is a Hindu. But as the novel develops, her
innocence withers away and the bloody experience of the partition takes its
place. She gradually becomes aware of the dark realities of life. She witnesses
the city of Lahore burning into the flames. She also becomes aware of the
violence that happens with Rana and his family. Rana is the only survivor of
his family. Males of his family are butchered and women raped by Hindu and Sikh
marauders.
Such
incidents of violence bother Lenny very much in the beginning, but with the
development of the novel, she becomes used to it. Burning flames, fights,
slogans, rapes, mass killings etc become the incidents of every day. In most of
the novels dealing with partition, leaders like Master Tara Singh, J.L. Nehru,
Jinnah and Gandhi are represented as heroes. But in Ice-candy Man, we find them
represented as culprits of this violence in the views of Lenny. This is one of
the most distinguished features of this novel. Commonly, in most of the novels,
male and the will of the male is dominant in terms of sexuality. But in Ice
Candy Man, female acquires dominance. Lenny and the Cousin, who remains cousin
throughout the novel and his name remains unrevealed, are in some kind of
relation.
Cousin often
seduces Lenny by squeezing her breasts and playing with her genitals and Lenny
on her part also plays with the penis of Cousin. But at some stage, Lenny
becomes aware of her sexual dignity and restrains the lustful movements of
Cousin. The Cousin tries his best to seduce her. But she boldly guards herself.
But in other novels, sexuality is represented with the will of the male. The
woman is represented as someone who is weak and vulnerable to the lust of male.
This shows the belief of Bapsi Sidhwa inequality in terms of gender and her
contradiction with popular belief. Ayah is the other important characteristics
of the novel. In addition to being a nanny of Lenny, she is a young woman of
charm and beauty and knows well how to attract males. She has many admirers
like a masseur, gardener, butcher, Ice-candy Man etc. She often dominates the
situation. e.g. in one scene when an argument arises among her admirers, she
threats to leave the group. At this, the argument is resolved for her and even
Ice-candy Man vows not to argue again in front of her.
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