Redefining Identity: Existentialist Themes of Arbitrariness and Autonomy in The Holy Woman

Abstract

This research paper investigates the existentialist themes of arbitrariness, ambiguity, and self-determination in Qaisra Shahraz’s novel The Holy Woman (2001), focusing on the existentialist struggles of Zarri Bano, the protagonist. The study explores her journey from resistance to acceptance of arbitrariness, utilizing existentialist philosophy, particularly from the writings of Jean-Paul Sartre, Soren Kierkegaard, Albert Camus, and Friedrich Nietzsche. For the analysis, Alan McKee’s model of textual analysis has been applied to explore underlying meaning and interpretation of the target text. The method mainly relied on close examination of the selected text to explore the complex interplay between individual existence, societal constraints, and the search for Selfhood. This study intends to add to the body of knowledge by offering fresh perspectives on how willpower and anxiety interact to shape human destiny. Furthermore, it aims to close the gap for a better understanding of the intricacies involved in existentialism. The research’s findings indicate that it is the complicated connection between Will to Power and Angst that play a crucial role in understanding how human beings go through their existential crises. It also finds out that Authenticity allows women to construct their identities without adhering to stereotyped roles.