The Veil Analysis

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Recommended: An essay on symbolism of the veil

As an article of clothing that is used to hide one’s face, the veil, hijab, burqa, and niqab are objects that are often associated with modesty. In the context of the Muslim and/or Islam religion, the hijab is used as a barrier for to ensure that moral boundaries between men and women aren’t crossed. (Stacey, 2009) Nowadays, society has been known to associate the negative connotation of female repression with the words veil, hijab, or burqa, a large number of women who wear these headscarves in public have chosen to do so due to their own religious reasons and/or preferences. In relation to the short story “The Veil,” written by Ismat Chughtai, Chughtai challenges the symbolic meaning and/or significance behind the veil and the power that they hold in society in relation to the power struggles of the women behind them and the men who lift them.
In the Islamic and/or Muslim religion, the veil has become one of the most controversial articles of clothing when it comes to the topic of gender. Surrounded by negative connotations such as terrorism and the repression of women, in many cases the veil has most often sparked fear. With society influenced by the negative connotations of the veil, the fear that is often associated with this article of clothing has lead to society overseeing and/or dismissing the symbolic meaning behind wearing the veil. Although the veil is often interchangeably used to refer to the hijab, which is used as a cover to ensure that moral boundaries are never crossed, the veil symbolizes virginity, innocence, respect for God, and most importantly the woman’s “willingness” to submit to her earthly God – groom. As a social norm in society, the veil has often symbolized the entrance to marriage and/or womanhood i...

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... or having your husband putting aside his pride to claim his bride. The gender roles that are present in this story are seen through the conversations that are held with both Kale and Gorbi between their immediate families. Blinded by their youthful arrogance, both families voice the gains and/ or the losses that each will gain if the veil is lifted.
In spite of the fact that the veil is only a marital piece of cloth, in the story, the veil manages to reveal the truths behind arranged marriages. Although marriage is considered a cause for celebration, Chughtai exposes the disadvantages to arrange marriages when love isn’t involved and beauty/colorism come into the picture. With the involvement of their parental authorities, young age, and the constant reference to Gorbi’s fair-skinned beauty in contrast to Kale’s dark-inky skin, the marriage turns into a disaster.

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