ShahidaPerveenresearchpaper PDF

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/321758433
THE EFFECTS OF MARXISM ON THE CHARACTERS IN MOHSIN HAMID'S

NOVEL: "MOTH SMOKE" AND ZULFIQAR GHOUS'S NOVEL: "MURDER OF
AZIZ KHAN"
Article · October 2017
CITATIONS READS
6 6,638
2 authors, including:
Dr.Abdul Ghafoor Awan

Institute of Southern Punjab
231 PUBLICATIONS 673 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:
Relationship between environment and sustainable economic development View project
The impact of fiscal deficit on economic growth View project
All content following this page was uploaded by Dr.Abdul Ghafoor Awan on 12 December 2017.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Global Journal of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities 749
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
ISSN 2520-7113 (Print) ISSN 2520-7121 (Online)
www.gjmsweb.com.editor@gjmsweb.com
____________________________________________________________
THE EFFECTS OF MARXISM ON THE CHARACTERS IN

MOHSIN HAMID’S NOVEL: “MOTH SMOKE” AND
ZULFIQAR GHOUS’S NOVEL: “MURDER OF AZIZ
KHAN”
Shahida Perveen1, Prof.Dr.Abdul Ghafoor Awan2

ABSTRACT-The main purpose of this paper is to analyze and explore the Marxism
effect on characters of Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid and The Murder of Aziz Khan
by Zulfikar Ghose comparatively. The next important aim of this study is to mention
the socio- political issues which have made negative effects on working class.
Through this research paper to create an awareness that how working class have made
struggle for the existence of their lives, how to made effort for their rights but their
approaches were weak. Both of these novels have portrayed the theory of Marxism
and truly analyzed the nature of characters in the light of this theory. We think that
this research work will add piece of new knowledge in the existing literature.
Key words: Marxism, Exploitation, Capitalism, socio-political, corruption.
Type of study: Original Research paper
Paper received: 10.07.2017
Paper accepted: 28.08.2017
Online published: 01.10.2017
___________________________________________________________________
1. M.Phil Scholar, Department of English, Institute of Southern Punjab, Multan.
2. Dean, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, Institute of Southern Punjab,
Multan. ghafoor70@yahoo.com. Cell # +923136015051.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
1.INTRODUCTION
The main aim of this study is evaluate the human conscious connected to the
time of age as past, present and future. Story of this novel portrays the social culture
and social history of Pakistan. It also highlights the unevenness, disgusting and
exploitation among working class and land owner of the Pakistan just after the
creation of Pakistan. Social history which is present in this novel is a strong
background history of our own social culture.
This study is the analyses of the text of both novels under the Marxism theory
which presents the Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The two were the early theorist
of the movement. Through this theory Marx presented the ideology of human being
orientation. This ideology dealt how capitalists ruled over the proletariat. Marx
asserted that this theory based on superstructure and this superstructure is the shade
of capitalist. He also gave the idea of workers’ labour, which were the external cause
of mind and body destruction.
Class distinction is main point of this theory which is a certain group of people
which are differ from each other on the basis of occupied land, different of production,
discrimination of wealth and money, which become the cause of problem, tension,
and conflicts among these classes.
Emerging trends of this theory is highlights the critical evaluation and analysis of
these novels character behavior. Marx asserts in his theory the socioeconomic and
political condition of the novel and elaborates the traditions history of Pakistan. Both
writers of the novels handling the disguising attitude of capitalist class for their
worker class assumption. They had highlights the ups and downs of social issues.
Corruption, favoritism, fatalism, and determinism are the common social issues of
their novels. Workers had made physical hard work and they had to get low amount
of earning on the other hand upper class people had made mental hard work and they
had got a lot of wealth and earning.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
1.1 Background of study:

Before the comprehension of Marxism effects and outcomes of characters
feeling and emotions, first we must understand the historical context of this theory.
From where was the concept of Marxism arose, its concealment and growth of social
forces: Its economical effects, its material outcomes, and interaction with people
aspiration. Marxism starts in the very beginning of 15th and 16th century till heads to
the new bourgeois social activity which revolves around the human spheres of life, in
which analyze the product and productive system of materialist society. From starts
money and power was a strong character which made a distinction between upper and
lower and this was the cause of major problem, frustration, and feeling of annoyance
which leads to the negative impact of life. This distinguishes gradually moves from
one century to another, from country to country and even society to society.
1.2 Main Research Problem:
Our main research problem is to analyze and discuss the main feature of
Marxist in both literary novel Moth Smoke and murder of The Aziz khan. Zulifqar
Ghos and Mohsin hamid exposed actual distinction which is found in character’s
mind in their novel. The elite class issues such as poverty, joblessness, crime, foreign
relation and the nuclear issues will be discussed under the Marxist theory.
1.3 Problem Statement
Statement of the problem is the detail description of the problem not a
solution of the problem. So we want to highlights the major issues of the study,
investigate the socioeconomic problem of Pakistani traditions and culture under the
distinctive theory of Marxism presented by Karl Marx.
1.4 Objective of the study:
The main objectives of this study are:
1. To describe the alternative nature of characters of both selected novels “Moth
Smoke” and “Murder of Aziz Khan” under the specific theory of Marxism.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
2. To examine the personal reaction of characters for material things in

Pakistani literature.
3. To study the causes of the division of society into different ethnic, religious
and linguistic classes on account of crime, violence, unequal distribution of
wealth, and poverty
1.5 Scope of the study:
Student of literature gain much owes through this study. This work will be a
specimen for those who probable to do something on comparative work. This sot will
be prominent in the sense that student learns a lot about Mohsin Hamid and Zulifqar
Ghos as a Pakistani prose writer. This study critically and comparatively evaluates
the significance traits of characters’ attitude under the certain circumstances of
applied Marxism. This study will facilitate the different chunks of complicated
problems of routine lives of upper, lower and middle class society. Lower class are
grinding in the hand of middle and upper both, middle class are grinding only by the
hand of upper, and finally upper class grinding by the hands of their own fate.
2.LITERATURE REVIEW
Vidisha Barua (2000) explore the study “Crime and social control in Pakistan”
says that latest crime which is a part of every society, but She specially discussed
class distinction which is found in Pakistan society. Sociopolitical crime of corruption
is like an insect which destroy the whole society. For Marx, the conflicts of interest
between employers and employees are what history is all about. She observed their
attitude, their style, their thinking, and their way of living towards the other class of
people made them unique and different from the common people of society. Above
mentions aspect shows that they are permissive, receptive and open minded people.
Author chooses the city of Lahore actually he wants to reveal the realistic touch of
Pakistani culture. Through Lahore he wants to unfold the genuine contemporary
elite class lives. She told that Hamids wants to highlight the all social issues like
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
poverty, joblessness, and crime, violation of the law, foreign relation, and the nuclear
issues.
Yaqoob (2010) Claims that the most noticeable thing of the novel Mohsin
Hamid’s “Moth Smoke” divided of the whole society into two clashes. This story is
based on two eye view, first is very vulgar meaning and other is deep, significant, and
extent meaning. It’s only possible when you take close eye view then it realized that
they are not like this which they pretend. Mohsin Hamid has created Class division
between two fanciful powers. One group is belonged to upper class, has referred to
masses, large and sweaty and other’s are lower, poor, middle, small and wages people
and inferior creature. More she defines in this novel writer has depicted the real
picture of society in Pakistan. As in Pakistan One class has a lot of money and they
had no concern about their spendthrift and consume it freely on their lavish, and other
class have no enough money to spend on their necessities of life. They had made
voyage struggle for getting sufficient money but they had failed. Hamid’s said one
reason behind the class distinction is prevailing disease of corruption. Corruption is a
very important and significant theme of this novel. Both classes have a different
complex. Upper class has superiority complex and lower class inferiority complex.
This complexity leads the classes to the corruption. Different type of corruption has
been seen throughout the novel Social corruption, moral corruption, religious
corruption and sexual corruption.
Ahmad (2014) in his paper titled “Political condition and Pakistani literature”
Reported that Mohsin Hamid is a leading emerging voice of his age. He was capable
of strong critique of elite class, who are responsible for the ideology of Pakistan,
social and political messes since 1947 to down trodden. In this novel Moth Smoke,
he condemned the ruling elite, during the age of 1990’s to 1998’s, when nuclear of
May has been checked. It was the down age of economic state of Pakistan and the
dismissal of Sharif government by General Musharraf.When the novel was published
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
it was a great change in social and political society. According to him the novel is set
in Lahore when in May 1998 nuclear weapons in an escalating test-for-test with India.
Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were widely corrupt and incompetent when they
were in power in 1990’s. After the death of Banazir, Asif zardari was the current
leader of PPP was worse than even. Now public want to need election and demanded
an honest person which act upon the judiciary against the politician which breaking
the law.
Zahir (2015) has stated that characters of Mohsin Hamid novel Moth Smoke
true representative of Marx,s philosophy of Marxism. Marxism defined that class
struggle, class distinction, and class differences are the main part of human life.
According to Marx, all features of society (e.g. political systems, law, religion, social
norms) are molded by the dominant class in order to help them maintain economic
supremacy; he famously described religion as "the opiate of the masses" Social
position can be measured by the social position of female sex.She highlights one of
the most unique points of this is that it is narrated through every character point of
view. Every character is a main hero of the novel. They narrates their experience and
events by own point of view. That’s why every character is a hero of the novel. Reader
feels sympathy, anger, frustration, hostility, and antagonism for each one.
Rehman (2015) has been stated that Mohsin hamid telling in his novel” Moth
Smoke” ups and downs of the society. He divides the society into two parts. Fist one
is upper class and 2nd is lower class. Upper class has a lot of money and lower class
has no money.According to her Mohsin hamid describe the story comparatively. Ozi
and Daru are a two young man, one is belonging to upper class and other is belonging
to middle class family. Ozi’s father is a corrupt politician and he had facilitated all
the necetities of life. Daru’s father died in very age. khurram uncle his father friend
looks after his family after the death of his father. Khurram uncle has only son and
have so much money to fulfill his desire. From childhood to adult age they live
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
together in house. So in the very beginning of his life he feels inferiority complex.
Their close relationship can’t fill the gap between them because of high status, lots of
money difference, class distinction. Ozi has a very big house which makes daru
uncomfortable because he feels that economic disparity found between them.
Saleem (2015) explained that Mohsin Hamid in Moth Smoke (2001) deals
socio-economic strata of Pakistan and he focused on all social evils like corruption,
class distinction, lower and upper, and brutality of extremely forces of the society.
Mismatch interaction between extremist creates conflicts, threats, clashes,
disagreement, and incompatibility. Story starts with a war of succession between
great Mughal emperor Shah jahan and his sons. He well defined the history of the
novel the Mughals lived in India from 1526 to 1858 A.D. During this Great emperor
era a lot of art and architecture has been produced in India. But in this novel Mughal’s
of India presenting the encounter of three main character Dara shikoh (Daru),
Aurangzeb (Ozi) and Mumtaz. Daru and Ozi are friends separated by class distinction
and Mumtaz lover of one and the wife of other is the novel catalyst.
Ayub (2012) mention in his article that Marxism foregrounds the economic
statement and their impact on social, political, and cultural atmosphere. He examines
that in murder of Aziz khan class distinction is more serious problem than all other
social, political, cultural, and ideological differences. He said When Pakistan came
into being, the Muslim who came to Pakistan from India they are less developed in
business, at that time clever individuals tried to exploit the rights of these people and
had to violate the law and morality. When Akram earn profit through bluff and
cleverness, people rather being annoyed to him, they had admirer and applauded him,
for he had the gift to earn money, that gift for which they all desire themselves. So
common people comments made him more injustice and cruel, he had done every
black and white thing for earning money.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
Abbasi (2012) analyzed the paradigms of style The Zulifikar Ghose’s Novel
in his thesis, the trinity of the Shah Brothers accommodate very effectively. They had
to exploit the competent of socio-political system of Pakistan. The eldest shah
brothers Akram used many tricks to establish money and organized industrial system,
the second brother Ayub to inspect the worker’s union, and the third shah brother
Afaq exploit the women. So these industrial elite demolish through artifice,
underhanded the men and women.
Ahmad (2013) critically defined some chunks of this novel in her article. She
said this book was truly based on delicate condition of Pakistan today. Main reason
was that book was reprinted in 2013 by Oxford university press. It has discussed the
evil and dark side of the prescient country.She telling that Aziz Khan is a small land
owner, he is a father of two sons and three daughter, he is eminent and dignified man,
his seventy acres not is a property with a market value rather it is his existence, his
own identity, no one can take his land from him first without taking his existence,
Which is exactly what the Shah Brothers tried to do.
Haq (2014): In his article “The currency of journalism within a literary” The
Diary of a Social Butterfly by Moni Mohsin”, The Murder of Aziz Khan by Zulfiqar
Ghose is also a book strictly dealing with the political perspective of Pakistan after it
got its independence. Comparatively if we talk about the Murder of Aziz khan it was
published in 1960’s when political condition was on peak point. Pakistan and India
fought a war and turmoil led and yahya khan taking over the military coup. It was
1960s disorder atmosphere corruption and injustice thrive in Pakistan.
Ahmad (2014) has described the early social and political condition of the
country and political behavior of politicians with nations and early history of Pakistan
and their reaction and correction of all these issues captured in the novel. When
Zulfikar Ghose visited the Pakistan after the birth of his twenty years, he hoped that
the people of his homeland had got freedom but he become more disappointed, after
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
the arrival of Pakistan all his good imagination changed into desperate and he hot
disillusioned and desperate at the rate what he saw.
Abbasi (2015) illustrated the early nature of the novel the Murder of Aziz
khan is an extraordinary and experimental novel. When it was published in 1975,
publisher did not await the worthy of the novel from writer in the world of
postcolonial. The Murder of Aziz Khan is a realistic novel in which writer portrays
the important concerns of that time. He said that writer discussed all socio-political
phase of strata, occurrences of newly born Pakistan. He describe that Ghose himself
explain that this novel is actually response of newspaper report which he was read
during the visit of Pakistan in 1960’s. In that newspaper news was mention that one
forcible man demand to amiable to sell their land other wised they will charge. This
novel is a reflection of historical and social milieu which is treated very carefully but
despite the all limitations of the writer, it is a work of art.
2.1 Distinction of this study:
This study is distinguished from the other studies in a way that it has explored
Marxist theory in a more influential, euthenics, and argumentative, attractive and
marvelous way. Marx, explain the organization of production and essential unit of
social class of that society where men believe on self-realization. Man born for work
without work man is useless machine. If man has no motion he is become dead.
Another distinction of this study is made man worthy through righteous work. So the
value of cooperation implies in external and eternal way of living. Through wages,
profit paid and fulfills demanding needed they attain highest possible level of
satisfaction. It explores the Pakistani third world culture which is not often talked
about. The experience of struggle develops a working class. Then workers
observation that their interest made them differ from capitalist.
Another distinction of this study is the researcher’s own interest and ability
made this study more gorgeous, perfect, sheen, handsome and attractive. It made her
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
wonderful keen observer of Pakistani culture, customs, lifestyle, beliefs, values,

behavior and material objects that constitute a people’s way of life.
3.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Nature of study:
This study is qualitative and comparative in nature. This study involves the
analysis of original texts of the both novels through applied theory. Comparatively
this study based on detail description of effects and outcomes of characters’ behavior.
The aim of qualitative research is to facilitate the deeper understanding of the
research. Analysis of each character’ behavior relays on qualitative research.
3.2 Sample of this study:
We have selected two literary and Pakistani novels “Moth Smoke” by Mohsin
Hamid and “Murder of Aziz Khan” Zulfikar Ghose as a sample of studies. This study
will be confined to characters’ behavior under the Marxist theory of both Pakistani
novels which truly represent traditional society. I shall comparatively discuss each
character of both novels under certain laws of nature. This study will highlight the
social issues like corruption, illicit substitution, manipulation, deterioration,
imperfection and try to maintenance all the issues, and comparatively both novels
have same situation
3.3 Themes of Study:
We have selected following themes from the above two novels. We will analyze these
themes in the social perspective of the selected novels. The selected themes are:
1.Desire
2.Class Division in society
3.Power, Greed and lust
4.Betrayal
5. Jealousy
10.Obsessive love
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
11. Corruption
12. Drug
13. Money
3.4 Type of Data:
Collection of ideas and information simply called Data. There are two types
of Data: primary and secondary Data. We will use secondary data in this study. The
secondary data is available in published books, research journals, magazine,
newspaper and relevant books etc. Secondary Data shows the validity, and
authenticity of research. That’s why it requires both hard and soft type of data.
3.5 Analytical Technique:
We used critical discourse analysis (CDA) as a technique to explore the
analysis of selected Data. The CDA analysis will concentrate the “Marxism” effects
on the characters behavior of both novels “Moth Smoke” by Mohsin Hamid and
“Murder of Aziz Khan “ by Zulfikar Ghos under the specific quality of judging. Thus
CDA evaluate the discussion of the eternal and external feature of figurative
language, life style, circumstances, age of both writers, their literary value,
comprehension and critically evaluates the text. It will also determine to compose the
search based theory of “Marxism” effects on current study and its outcomes of
reaction.
4. ANALYSIS OF SELECTED THEMES AND CHARACTERS
4.1 Marxism:
Marxism is a social, political, and economical way of living in certain society
by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. All the field of education like philosophy,
religion, the arts, science, technology, the media and all other are connected to
Marxism. Marxism is only deal with economy and economics is a main part of
Marxism. Economics is deal with power of social, political and socioeconomic class.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
That’s why Marxist depicts the human action, event, connections, production, and
relationship in socioeconomics classes. Encarta (2004) reference Library as:
“A theory in which class struggle is a central Element in the analysis of
social change in Western societies”
Class distinction is a grand issue of 19th century. Marx divides the society into two
parts one is lower and the other is upper class. Labor class always crushed by the
hands of upper class and this become the cause of alienation. Labor class do hard
working without any payment, they growing the fields and upper class enjoying the
variety of foods and dishes, they made struggle in factories but the owner of the
factories got a benefits of luxury life. Lower class compelled to follow the laws but
rich exploited the regulations. They never got proper food, shelter, education and
other necessary needs of life. All these causes turned into furious anger and then they
become rebellious.
Marx’s scientific method was based on simplifying the concrete and abstract
manifestation into an abstraction which becomes less complex even we get a model
solution. Marxian theory implies a blending of structure and action. According to
Applebaum (1988: 15) “we need 'to understand how Marx sought to bridge the
concerns of both philosophy and science in developing a theory that operates
4simultaneously at the levels of structure and action… the philosophic critique of
consciousness, the "scientific" analysis of capitalist economic institutions, and the
historical study of politics and society.”
4.2 Moth Smoke: (2000)
This story highly comprises the historical view point Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan and his two sons Aurangzeb and Darashikoh. Aurangzeb had faced betrayal
from his brother and friend Darashikoh and manipulates his life from defeating. When
Daru loses his job he can’t pay bills and other meets of life that time he is actually
loses his control in the elite section. Then his life tragedy start he begins to do a many
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
wrong things. He is become a drug dealer and killer and moved to indulge in falls
things and starts love affair with his best friend wife Mumtaz. His criminal life leads
him towards the jail from where in end leaves alone.
4.3 DARASHIKOH SHEHZAD:
Novel Moth Smoke is a story of young protagonist named Darashikoh Shezad
called Daru, educated, but belongs to lower class family, he loses in the beginning of
the novel. Whole story revolves around his joblessness, aimlessness, Failure in live
and relationship, and frustration of needs of life. Hamid defined the description of
Daru as a protagonist:
“A hard man with shadowed eyes, manacled, cuffed,
Disheveled, proud, erect. A man capable of anything
and afraid of nothing. Two guards accompany him,
And yes, they are brutes, but they would offer scant
Reassurance if this man were not chained. He is the
Terrible almost- hero of a great story: powerful, tragic,
and dangerous. He alone meets your eyes.” (Moth smoke: pg 8)
4.4 AURANGZEB:
He is a friend of Daru and son of uncle Khurram, he is wealthy, well educated,
good looking, and highly conscious guy. His ideology represent that he is belong to
upper class, he claims about his father is a man of important person. He says; “I’m
wealthy, well connected, and successful. My father’s an important person. In all
likelihood, I’ll be an important person. Lahore is a tough place if you are not
important person.” (184) He defined his prosperous, privilege and social position in
Pakistan.
But Daru critique that he is a son of corrupt father who is longing to enjoy the social
position in same status. Status of Daru and Ozi true representation differentiation
between found Pakistan and India. Both are want to become atomic power without
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
noticing that what cost may they have to pay. Moreover, Ozi’s higher education, two
big pajeroes, big house is a main reason of Daru’s inferiority complex. Daru clearly
narrates the status conscious between Ozi and himself even through the description
of Ozi’s pajero and his own Suzuki.
4.5 MUMTAZ:
Mumtaz is a beautiful, well educated, and strong character of the novel. She
is fully attractive, mature mind and the wife of Ozi. Somehow Mumtaz is the only
character of the novel who tries to resist the problem and difficulties of the lower
class even she is not enough successful. She is a paradoxical and stereotypical
character which want to generalized the in the elite class woman of Pakistan society.
She keeps soft corner for the lower and she has realization that’s why she interrupts
his husband not used air conditioner for long duration. In her opinion: “The entire
country suffers because of the wastefulness of a privileged few.” Ozi‟s replies, “I
couldn’t care less about the country.”(106).
4.6 MURAD BADSHAH:
Murad Badshah is the significant character of the criminal society, and the
partner of Darashikoh. His life is a real picture of Karl Marx theory analysis, and
become a point of critics. He is M.A English but he drives rickshaw on account of
joblessness, because he belongs to middle class family and he can’t afford big
corruption for the job. When he can’t get his right in society he moved against of that
society, he indulged in many crimes of society like become drug dealer, robber and
finally resulting to murder.
4.7 Zulfikar Ghos: The Murder of Aziz Khan
The Murder of Aziz khan by Zulfikar Ghose first published in 1967 and later
on it was again published in 2013. This novel represents the earliest history of
Pakistani culture through the character of Aziz Khan who typifies the ancient and old
tradition of values and Shah Brother delineate the brutal attitude, who exploits the
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
resources of lower ones. The novel portrays the both ups and downs of superior and
inferior complexes. Superior social status of capitalist and lower loses their identity.
Landlords are forced to sell their land by the hands of Shah Brothers but resistance
has no space there. Shah Brother are the only capitalist who buyers the land according
to their accord and this attitude shows the disasters fallout for the society and country.
By nature there are two type of characterization on the basis of their class division,
one is Aziz khan, his wife and his two sons belong to the old social order, and the
other are Akram, Ayub, Razia, Afaq, faridha and Zarina are belong to capitalistic
group of contemporary social order. The exploitation of Shah Brother’s randomly
destroying the old social order.
4.8 Aziz khan:
Aziz khan is the only rebellious and protagonist of the novel who refuses to
sell the land by the hands of Shah Brothers. It was great burst for Shah Brothers
against their proposal and forceful act who thought that they can get everything
through money. But for Aziz khan his own identity is more important than money or
another thing of the world. Rejection of Aziz khan made furious to Shah Brothers and
this was the major cause of conflict which is develop between them. This refusal was
become the egoist problem for the Shah Brothers.
4.9 Shah Brothers:
In the beginning name of Shah Brothers Akram, Ayub, Afaq shows the
authoritative position of capitalist in Pakistan. In this novel Shah Brothers represent
the Bourgeoisie. This term used in Marxism vocabulary which means capitalist, upper
class, strong part of the society, which have complete authority for the production of
means and goods. Shah Brothers are also a part of materialist system; they just think
about that they can buy everything with money wrong intend.
Marxist theory widely applied on three Shah Brother’s violation and brutality
against worker class. They just thought about their own profit they had no concern
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
about the hardship and pain of worker class. They had bought all the lands with fields
of cotton and also organized the cotton mill in Kalapur and got a complete hold in
Kalapur and in the field of cotton industry. They just seem the worker as an insect
which crawling on the earth, they had nothing in front of ruler’s point of view
4.10 Razia:
Razia is the well-known female character the novel Murder of Aziz khan by
Zulfikar Ghos. He is a wife of Ayub famous one of Shah Brother. She has dashing
personality and she has two daughters, these qualities of Razia made her differentiate
from other female character and made other men envious of Ayub. She feels proud
of being a mother of daughters because Akram’s wife has no child. This thing gave
more satisfaction to Razia that only her child is the inheritance of Shah Brothers all
property. She is much conscious about her children future; she had made their rules
for her children that could continue from generation to generation.
4.11 Javed and Rafiq:
Javed is the youngest son of Aziz khan, very innocent, soft hearted and
obedient and legend boy. He has friendly relationship with his elder brother and
amuse to anyone whenever he meets. Javed is very caring brother when Rafiq come
home liquoe with Afaq company he understood the entire cunning situation, he cleans
the Rafiq mouth and teeth and asked him to take rest for some time then we will talk
about. He seemed that condition is curious.
5.COMMON FACTORS IN BOTH NOVELS
There are some common factors which are found in both novels;
5.1 Melancholy titles of both novels:
The titles of both novels are melancholic, depressive and had a great tragic
flow of story. Both novels story foreground sadness, forlornness, and faced the strata
of cultural violation. Novels truly evaluated under the theory of Marxism, where
characters faced social, political and cultural dimensions. But one of the most
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
disheartening conditions of both novel is that here people are the main cause of
disastrous loss of other people. As human being social things are more valuable than
humanity, society in not cause of destruction by people rather man is a serpent which
bit them through the poisonous of his action. There is no need of special equipment
for the ruinous of human being rather they had a toxic in their mind, tongue and heart
through they killed them easily. Title of ‘Moth Smoke’ is very symbolic and
metaphoric in physical state.’ Moth’ is some kind of insect which are attract towards
the artificial light. Moth is a metaphoric term which used in literature, which represent
the inferior creature of universe. On the other light is truth and mortal vision of
universe, which shows the superiority of goodness or stands for holy or heavenly
source of light or God. Moth is always rounded around the light and indulged his life
in danger. ’Smoke’ is a second metaphoric term of title, which shows emptiness,
imprecision, ambiguity, and unnatural thing. This unclear vision leads toward the
confusion, tension and difficulties of life. Metaphorically ‘The title of The Murder of
Aziz Khan’ was become the cause of social, political, cultural and ritual death. The
title represents the death of Aziz Khan mentally not physically and this was more
dangerous than physical, because in physical death man deviate from all the worldly
domains but in mentally death his life suffering going to the long lasting period. In
the end his family meets to the death, his own land stanched away and remain alone
with empty mind.
5.2 Corrupt capitalistic structure in novels:
In brief description of Marx theory, he argued that capitalist do not work
rather workers are doing hard working in their lands and mills, so capitalist become
gradually rich and they exploited the rights of worker, so they had gradually become
weaker and poorer. This constant exploitation becomes the cause of aggressive and
this aggression turns into revolution. The owner ship of the means of production of
the capitalist gives them freedom and control over the whole society and they changed
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
the whole environment into irreversible situation. Because of this case proletariat
made hard struggle but production gains all production and staying them empty
handed.
5.3 Calamitous condition of protagonist:
One another common feature of both novels are fatal condition of both male
protagonists. Both were belonged to middle class, and faced life struggling by the
hands of some capitalist. Limitations made them bound into four walls and life were
become narrow at them. On the other side elites have a wider range for availing higher
education, travelling from one place to another in their big cars, wearing a branded
cloth and other things, eating and drinking in big hotels, visiting in broad countries in
vacations, getting qualities of foods, using air conditioner in summer and heaters in
winters. All these facilities they are getting easily and without struggling. They
thought all these facilities made for them and they are for its. Similar situation was
happening in the novels, In Smoke Moth Daru was a son of Uncle Khurram friend,
after the death of daru’s father Khurram Uncle takes at his home and realized him as
his own but he was not become his true father as he was a father of Aurangzeb. After
his limited education he geting job in bank on the favor of Uncle Khurram but later
on he loses his job and financially he become weak but not Uncle Khurram and nor
Ozi support him financially. Ozi was roaming in big pajero but he had a small Suzuki,
Ozi got higher education but he had no chance for getting higher education, all these
differences indulged him into complexes and these complexes leads him towards the
calamitous point.
In ‘Murder of Aziz Khan’ Aziz khan was a simple man, he does not know
adroit nature of time. But humorous nature of age leaves behind and he was
surrounded by the hands of swiftness period. Shah Brothers are well educated and
they are very cunning people, on the refusing of Aziz khan they moved against of
him. They had used power and meet him to the mortal calamitous.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
5.4 Illegitimate nature of Razia and Mumtaz:

Razia and Mumtaz both are dimorphic, dashing, alluring and sensual female
characters of both novels. They are totally different from typical Pakistani house
wives, women who are very faithful with their husband, and live a happy mutual life
but their nature is inverse. Common thing is that both writers take one female
characters, which have a roaming nature, who are indifferent from other female
character of the novels. Mumtaz made illicit relations with Daru and live unmarried
life with him. She is a wife of Ozi but a lover of Daru, she is drawna obsessive
intensity in which moth circling around the candle flame. She pushed apart his
gorgeous husband, toddler son Muzzam, the dignity of his family just for diagnosis
love. Razia’s nature was not quit different hamid’s female character of Mumtaz but
somehow she is typical woman. She is stylish and fullness in figure and consider
herself as a queen but with all these qualities she is silly and absurd women. As a
typical she also wanted money, property, and luxury life style and want to jealous the
other female but actually she herself feel jealous to others. She also envious his
husband Ayub and made illcit relationship his brother in law Afaq
5.5 Bogus socioeconomic factors of both novels:
Both writers present a fictitious and contrived condition of Pakistani
socioeconomic condition. Common people always faced suffering in that society
where laws are in the hands of capitalistic. Marx defined that writers had a complete
control over the social and political institutes. Social and political institute were
totally based on the true means of production. Ghose himself was true witness of the
crisis which people faced in the time of Pakistan after the independence when he came
back into Pakistan after twenty years of birth place. When she experienced the entire
miserable situation, then he writes the entire observing pain through his pen.
In Moth Smoke, Murad Badshah and Daru are struck in their own problems,
both are well educated but they can’t get suitable job, the jobless attitude seemed them
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
useless, then they started criminal works and indulged in a life of drug, crime and
piracy. Its openly show that socioeconomic factors of Pakistan have such qualities
where educated people comprises in criminal states because they can’t get jobs.
Wealthy people break down the laws, and all the legal departments are obedient of
that people. They had a complete control on all the legal institution, they don wrong
and illegal deeds and they proudly feel that they had a complete right. Ozi drives his
big car on the road without noticing the signal and killed a boy through his Pajero
accident and he doesn’t feel guilty and ashamed.
6.CONCLUSIONS
Mohsin Hamid and Zulfikar Ghose had paid devoted contribution for
highlighting the socio-political issues of Pakistani culture in the term of Marxism by
Karl Marx. The relationship between exploitation and capitalism allows the writer to
express the panic condition of specific culture. Marx illuminated in his theory that
capitalistic have complete tendency to control over the extract of labor and entire
means of production. In capitalistic system people encountered all the challenges of
surviving and labor had paid highly devotions of service. They faced multi
dimensional instigation of unfair and injustice sources of existence. Capitalist have
an approach for their personal motives to gain a super power and super economy
through perish and exploitation of labors masses.
In this regard Mohsin Hamid novel ‘Moth Smoke’ and Zulfikar Ghose ‘The
Murder of Aziz Khan’ are the best choice for the analysis for all the terms which are
mentioned above. Both novels are the great historical novels of Pakistan and attain
much attention of whole world readers. Writers of both novels made a familiar to the
readers of broad line of sanction, situations, problems, and issues related to the socio-
political society. This disgusting detail made them depressive and prepared them for
the handling of these hurdles. Furthermore, these tackles open a new world on the
readers and give them opportunity to explore and devolve them successfully. These
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
gorgeous writers provide an opportunity to the individual readers to tackle out these
issues and enviable them to use their rights in that corrupt society. More these novels
made their readers mature, and as they enable to read the whole novels, they were
become more aware from the surroundings and to understand the complexity of social
corruption.
In addition; Hamid and Ghose deals the true picture of that society where
upper class are dominating, and lower always struggling for their existence. Increases
of production made strong to the capitalist but proletariat becomes weaker. As
production increases capitalist enjoys more luxury life but on the other side poor
works quantity grown up. Both writes expressed their sudden feeling and thought
through their own experience in their novels. They explore the detail description of
social issues through the central role of their characters and urged sympathy in the
heart of readers.
Both writers have a symbolic quality for the selection of the characters, we
reached being near to the reality of characters’ life, as we feel that we observed the
experiences of issues by their own. Even the names of characters of both novels are
also symbolic; Hamid takes the names of their characters from the Emperor family of
Shah Jehan. Ghose novel ‘The Murder of Aziz Khan’ also takes names of characters
as Afaq, Ayub, and Akram the word of capital ‘A’ stands the priority of capitalist in
the society and even the word of ‘three is also signifies. He used ‘three rooms’ ‘three
goats’ ‘three daughters’ and ‘three Shah Brothers’ stands the priority of powers. Their
characters obviously shaped according to the terms of catharsis, which gives the
description of detailed incident. Analysis of both novels reveals under the Karl Marx
theory Marxism’s and have a realistic approach to person’s personal and individual
life. There are a great effects and impacts of class distinction on the society where
people observed these experiences.
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
REFERENCES
Ahmed, M. I. (2009). “Post-Independence/Post-Colonial Pakistani Fiction in English
: A Socio-political Study with Focus on Twilight in Delhi, The Murder of Aziz
Khan, Ice-Candy Man, and Moth Smoke. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Advanced
Integrated Studies and Research, National University of Modern Languages,
Islamabad.
Awan, Abdul Ghafoor & Shahida Perveen (2015) “Comparison of Sylvia Plath and
Parveen Shakir with special Reference to their selected poems in Feminist
Perspective”, Journal of Culture, Society and Development, Vol.13:11-
19
Awan,Abdul Ghafoor & Tahniyat Rehman (2017) “ Notions of Hybride
identities: A socio-colonial insight into diasporic features in “Brick
Lane” and “American Brat” Global Journal of Management and
Social Sciences, Vol 3 (1):19-39
Awan, Abdul Ghafoor & Mavera Sultan (2017). “Comparative Analysis of
"Ice Candy-Man", "Train to Pakistan" and "Alakh Nagri" in
Perspective of Creation of Pakistan”, Global Journal of Management,
Social Sciences and Humanities,Vol 3 (2):21-44.
Awan, Abdul Ghafoor & Syed Ahmad Raza (2016). “The effects of
totalitarianism and Marxism towards dystopian society in George
Orwell’s fictions” Global Journal of Management and Social
Sciences, Vol 2 (4) :21-37
Bose.S (2000). Moth Smoke. Retrieved January 8, 2008. http://archieve
.salon.com/books/review/2000/01/06/hamid/print.html
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
Brend. B (1991). Islamic Art. Cambridge. Massachusetts: Harved University Press

retrieved January 8,2008. http://www.islamicart.com?library/empires/india.
Hamid, Mohshin. (2000). Moth Smoke. London: Granta Books.
Hamid, Mohshin. (2008). The Reluctant Fundamentalist. London: Penguin Books.
Hamid, Mohsin. Moth Smoke. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2000.
Hartnell, Anna. (2010). Moving through America: Race, Place and Resistance in
Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Journal of Postcolonial Writing. Vol.
46.
Harvey, D. (1983): “Marx’s theory of the Value of Labour Power: An Assessment”,
Social Research 50, 2:\305-344
Harvey, D. (1999): “The limits to Capital”. Verso, London
Howard, M. C. and J. E. King (1989, 1991): “A History of Marxian Economics,
Macmillan, London.
Inam Ul Haq- The Currency of Journalism within a Literary Discourse: An analysis
of Moni Mohsin's The Diary of Social Butterfly European Academic Research
Introduction to Pakistani literature in English The Murder of Aziz Khan.
Jay, Paul. (2006) “The Post-Colonial Conditions: Globalization and Historical
Allegory in Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke.” Ariel: A Review of International
English Literature. 36.1-2: 51 71.
Marx, K., & Engels, F. (1967). “The communist manifesto (1848)”. Trans. AJP
Taylor. London: Penguin.
Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke and the Reluctant Fundamentalist.” Ariel: A Review of
International English Literature. 41.3-4: 23-31.
Morey, Peter. (2011). The Rules of the Game have Changed: Mohsin Hamid’s The
Reluctant Fundamentalist and Post-9/11 Fiction. Journal of Postcolonial
Writing. Vol.47.
Novels “Moth Smoke” and “The Reluctant Fundamentalist”, An International
Vol 3 (4) Oct-Dec, 2017 pp.749-772.
____________________________________________________________
reviewed Journal Vol.18, 2016

Rehman,T. 1991. A History of Pakistani Literature in English. Lahore: Vanguard
Review of Hamid’s Post 9/11 Themes. Los Angeles Times - 20 Feb. 2015.
Shaker with Special Reference to their selected Poems in Feminist Perspective”
Journal of Culture, Society and Development Vol. 13:11-19
Yaqoob, Munazza. (2010) “Human Perversion and Environmental Space: An
Ecocritical Reading of Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke.” International
Research Journal of Arts & Humanities 38: 93-104.
View publication stats

ShahidaPerveenresearchpaper PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ShahidaPerveenresearchpaper PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

ShahidaPerveenresearchpaper PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

THE EFFECTS OF MARXISM ON THE CHARACTERS IN MOHSIN HAMID'S

Article · October 2017

Dr.Abdul Ghafoor Awan

Relationship between environment and sustainable economic development View project

The impact of fiscal deficit on economic growth View project

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

THE EFFECTS OF MARXISM ON THE CHARACTERS IN

Shahida Perveen1, Prof.Dr.Abdul Ghafoor Awan2

1.1 Background of study:

2. To examine the personal reaction of characters for material things in

wonderful keen observer of Pakistani culture, customs, lifestyle, beliefs, values,

5.4 Illegitimate nature of Razia and Mumtaz:

Brend. B (1991). Islamic Art. Cambridge. Massachusetts: Harved University Press

reviewed Journal Vol.18, 2016

View publication stats

You might also like