Asian Literature

 The New York Times article, For Afghan Wives, a Desperate, Fiery Way Out, it discusses how the woman in Afghan feel as if they have no way out. Their lives are controlled by their husbands, or their husband’s family. They are seen as inferior to the men they are married to. Some of these woman are arranged to be married very young and to cater to their husbands. These woman are constantly subjected to emotional and physical abuse from their husbands, their in-laws, and even their own families. The article proves this, “It is shameful here to admit to troubles at home, and mental illness often goes undiagnosed or untreated. Ms. Zada, the hospital staff said, probably suffered from depression. The choices for Afghan women are extraordinarily restricted: Their family is their fate. There is little chance for education, little choice about whom a woman marries, no choice at all about her role in her own house. Her primary job is to serve her husband’s family. Outside that world, she is an outcast.” They feel the only way out is to set themselves on fire and burn to death. These woman are normally in a deep depression and are not able to receive help. They believe that the only way to be able to end their depression and abuse is to burn themselves.
 The Asian literature we are discussing in class shows how woman live in societies where they are seen as inferior to men. Males are portrayed as the greater gender and females are constantly reminded their place in society. One example of this is in The Book of Songs. The Book states, “So he bears a son, And puts him to sleep upon a bed, Clothes him in robes, Gives me a jade scepter to play with. The child’s howling is very lusty; In red greaves shall he flare, Be lord and king of house and home. Then he bears a daughter, And puts her upon the ground, Clothes her in swaddling-clothes, Gives her a loom-whorl to play with. For her no decorations, no emblems; Her only care, the wine and food, And how to give no trouble to father and mother” (A, 1040). This shows the difference in where the males and females are placed in society. The boys are to grow up and be kings and the girls are to grow up and their only worry is to take care of their husband. Woman are shown in the Asian literature to only do as they are told and to be under complete control of a man. The article from the New York Times shows that the culture has no changed drastically. Today woman are still seen as inferior and are not entitled to the same rights as men. It is very depressing that woman are now going as far as burning themselves to get away from the lives they are born into.