PAKISTANI LITERATURE

IN ENGLISH
Presentation
 Group Members

■ Attiqa Shehzadi ( 24020309-004 )

■ Ayesha Ishfaq. ( 22103009-013 )
■ Hifza Iqbal . ( 24020309-011 )
■ Khadija Siddique. (24020309-003 )
■ Hamna (24010309-012)
■ Department ( English)
■ Semester. ( 5th)
 Outlines of the Novel

■ Character’s Introduction
■ Chapter: 12 - 17
■ Summary
■ Themes
Character’s Introduction

■ Darashikoh Shezad ( Daru ) : The protagonist who falls into unhappiness and crime.
■ Aurangzeb ( Ozi ) : Daru’s wealthy childhood friend.
■ Mumtaz : Ozi’s wife who develops a complicated relationship with Daru.
■ Murad Badshah : A local criminal who becomes Daru’s partner.
Chapter 12 – 13 (Summary)

■ This chapter 12 shifts to Murad Badshah’s ■ This chapter 13 delves into Mumtaz’s
perspective, insight into his life and internal struggles. Unhappy in her
relationship with Daru. marriage to Ozi, she finds herself drawn to
Daru, both emotionally and physically.
■ Murad, a shady yet charismatic man,
reveals his illegal businesses, including ■ Her double life: outwardly the dutiful wife
smuggling. He sees himself as a and mother, while secretly pursuing her
survivalist in a corrupt society. desires and working as a journalist .
■ Daru, now struggling financially, becomes ■ She questions her choices, torn between
increasingly dependent on Murad for work her duty to her family and her longing for
and companionship. freedom and authenticity.
■ Together, they engage in petty criminal ■ Her relationship with Daru intensifies,
activities, furthering Daru’s moral decline. becoming both an escape and a source of
guilt.
Chapter ( 12 ) Themes :

■ Survival in a Corrupt Society: Murad represents those who handle a corrupt system
to survive, highlighting social unfairness.
■ Moral Decline: Daru’s fall into criminality shows how desperation (hopelessness)
can spoil one’s moral boundaries.
■ Friendship and Exploitation: Murad and Daru’s relationship is a mix of brotherliness
and mutual use.
Chapter ( 13 ) Themes :

■ Discontent with Privilege: Mumtaz’s dissatisfaction with her privileged life reflects
the emptiness wealth cannot fill.
■ Double Life: Her secret identity as a journalist and her affair with Daru highlight
themes of duality and secrecy.
■ Freedom vs. Duty: Mumtaz struggles between her desire for freedom and her
responsibilities as a wife and mother.
Chapter 14 ( Summary )

■ In Chapter 14 of Moth Smoke, Daru’s life keeps getting worse. He’s deep into drugs
and crime with Murad, and his relationship with Mumtaz grows more complicated.
■ While their affair gives him temporary relief, it also brings guilt and the fear of being
caught.
■ Daru’s poor choices lead him down a destructive path, showing his struggle to
handle his anger, jealousy, and hopelessness.
Chapter ( 14 ) Themes:

■ Self-Destruction:
1. Daru’s addiction and criminal involvement lead him toward a path of ruin.
2. His addiction to drugs is a form of escape, but it only deepens his spiral.
3. Daru’s inability to break free from this cycle shows how his choices are actively
contributing to his downfall.
■ Guilt and Consequences:
1. The affair with Mumtaz brings guilt, adding to the emotional burden he already carries.
2. This is reflected in his growing emotional disorder and the pressure on his
relationships.
3. The theme emphasizes how actions, especially those driven by desire or desperation,
have emotional and social consequences.
Chapter (14 ) Themes:

■ Despair and Hopelessness:

1. Daru’s situation is defined by a growing sense of despair.
2. His life seems to be moving in a direction he can’t control, and he struggles with the idea of any
hope for change.
3. He is stuck in a toxic environment, where he is alienated from his past, distance from his friends,
and constantly battling with feelings of failure.
■ Moral Corruption:
1. His affair with Mumtaz, his illegal activities with Murad, and his disregard for the consequences
show how far he has strayed from his earlier, more ethical self.
2. The choices Daru makes reflect his growing disregard for ethics and consequences.
3. The theme illustrates how difficult it can be to maintain moral integrity when surrounded by
corruption, desperation, and societal pressures.
Chapter 15 (Summary)

■ In Chapter 15 of Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid, the story continues as Daru’s life
spirals further into chaos. His financial struggles deepen, and his drug addiction
worsens, making him more reckless.
■ His obsession with Mumtaz grows, leading to increasing tension in his relationships.
As Daru’s choices push him closer to his downfall.
Chapter (15) Themes:

■ Moral Decay and Self-Destruction: Daru’s fall into crime, addiction, and unethical
behaviour highlights the self-destructive habits of individuals caught in a moral
vacuum ( emptiness).
■ Class Divide and Social Inequality: The novel explores the stark contrast (difference)
between the wealthy elite and the struggling middle class in Lahore, showcasing
how privilege shapes opportunities and lives.
■ Jealousy and Obsession: Daru’s envy of Ozi’s wealth and his obsession with Mumtaz
drive much of his actions, revealing the destructive nature of such emotions.
Chapter (15) Themes:

■ Corruption and Hypocrisy: The novel critiques the corruption deep rooted in society,
from the judicial system to personal relationships, where appearances often mask
moral failings.
■ Power and Privilege: The power dynamics between the elite and the underprivileged
reflect the societal structures that preserve inequality and injustice.
■ Alienation and Isolation: Daru’s struggles with loneliness and alienation mirror the
disconnection and aimlessness experienced by many in modern urban life.
Chapter 16 (Summary)

■ Mumtaz reflects on her life, wondering how things might have been different if she
had met Daru earlier.
■ After learning of Daru’s arrest for killing a boy in a car accident, she confesses her
affair to her husband, Ozi, who already knew.
■ Feeling guilt and sorrow, she decides to leave her family but worries about her son,
Muazzam, and how he will cope without her. Ozi offers forgiveness and asks her to
stay, but she leaves.
■ Mumtaz later learns that the boy’s death involved a Pajero, not a Suzuki, revealing a
political cover-up to protect Khuram Shah’s (father of Ozi) son from being implicated.
This deepens her understanding of the corruption surrounding the incident.
Chapter (16) Themes:

■ Guilt and Redemption: Mumtaz struggles with guilt over her affair and her perceived
failures as a wife and mother. Her reflections on Daru and her decisions highlight
her search for redemption and self-forgiveness.
■ Family and Responsibility: The chapter explores Mumtaz’s conflicting responsibilities
toward her family, especially her son Muazzam, and her need to assert her
independence and self-worth.
■ Love and Betrayal: The complex dynamics between Mumtaz, Daru, and Ozi reflect
themes of love, betrayal, and forgiveness, as each character deals with their
emotional wounds in different ways.
Chapter (16) Themes :

■ Corruption and Injustice: The discovery of the political cover-up involving Khuram
Shah’s son emphasizes the corruption and manipulation of justice in society,
underscoring the theme of systemic inequality.
■ Regret and Loss: Mumtaz’s reflections on “what could have been” reveal a deep
sense of regret and loss, as she struggles with the consequences of her choices and
the passage of time.
Chapter 17 (Summary)

■ This chapter shows the Emperor Aurangzeb’s reflection on his life and his regrets,
particularly the division and conflicts within his family.
■ It highlights his request to his sons to avoid fighting and the bitter reality of his
reign.
■ Discussing Aurangzeb’s rule, his failures in ensuring unity among his sons, and the
fragmentation of his empire.
Chapter (17) Themes:

■ Regret and Reflection: The end of Aurangzeb’s life is marked by deep regret for the
consequences of his actions. He reflects on his rule with sadness, acknowledging
the division and violence that followed his decisions.
■ Family Conflict and Division: The war of succession among Aurangzeb’s sons
emphasizes the destructive nature of familial disputes, especially in royal families.
This theme highlights how power struggles can tear families apart.
■ Fragility of Empires: Aurangzeb’s reign and the subsequent fragmentation of his
empire illustrate the fragile and transient nature of empires. Even the most powerful
rulers cannot prevent the disintegration of their legacies.
Chapter (17) Themes:

■ Legacy and Succession: Aurangzeb’s failure to ensure a peaceful succession

reflects the challenges of leaving behind a stable legacy. His sons lacked his
strength and unity, leading to the empire’s decline.
■ Religious and Political Conflict: Aurangzeb’s policies of religious intolerance and
centralization contributed to unrest. The chapter suggests that his approach, though
effective in expanding his empire, ultimately alienated his people and weakened the
empire’s cohesion.
■ Hope and Memory: The chapter concludes with a reflection on the enduring memory
of Aurangzeb’s empire and the possibility of hope amidst its ruins, as symbolized by
the poets’ narratives.
Conclusion of the Novel (Moth Smoke)

■ The novel concludes with Daru’s reflection on the moth smoke that has
consumed him, symbolizing the destructive nature of his desires and the
emptiness of his existence.

■ The conclusion of “Moth Smoke” is a powerful commentary on the

human condition, exploring themes of morality, identity, and the search
for meaning in a disorganized world.