Sketch the character of Jamila.
Tree Without Roots is a notable literary work by Syed Waliullah. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Tree Without Roots.
Answer
Sketch the character of Jamila.
Jamila is one of the most essential characters in the Novel “Tree Without Roots” (1967) by Syed Waliullah (1922-1971). She is the second wife of the protagonist character, Majeed. Her natural strength of personality is the proper antidote to Majeed’s absolute power regarding the religious affairs of the whole population of Mahabbatpur. She is the Rebel character in the Novel “Tree Without Roots.”
Young and Intellegent Woman: Jamila is the second wife of Majeed. She is very young but intelligent. Majeed marries her to satisfy the thirst of his raging libido and to have children with her. At first sight, Jamila appears as an adolescent girl with a very soft body and is scared, but the novel’s events prove that she is different from how she appears. The interesting thing is Jamila thought of Majeed and her 1st wife as her bridegroom’s father and mother, but the scenario is different. Her poor father was bound to hand Jamila to Majeed without any word. Jamila seems to be soft and adolescent during her marriage. She treats Rahima as her mother.
Victim of the Society: Jamila is one of the victims of society. She is prey to the non-equivalent marriage customs of society. She is the daughter of a penniless father who has to hand his daughter over to Majeed as soon as Majeed wills to marry her. Coming to Majeed’s household, Jamila identifies herself with a rat ensnared in a trap. She smiles unmindfully while weaving the mat with Rahima, for she took Majeed and Rahima for the bridegroom’s father and mother, respectively. This smile signals the reader the storm of a rebellion in the making.
Indifferent to Religion: Jamila is not religious like other characters. She is indifferent to religion. She does not say her daily prayers even after the stern orders from Majeed’s corner. When she is made to sit on the mat for prayer, she falls asleep on the mat. When there is an event of zikir chanting around the shrine, Jamila leaves the house of Majeed. She never gets tamed by Majeed. She thinks Majeed is a hypocrite. She wants to get revenge on Majeed by disobeying his order.
Beautiful and Loves to Decorate Herself: Jamila tends to follow her adolescent heart and does things that might hamper Majeed’s influence as the religious leader of the village. For example, Jamila sits at the threshold of her room and begins making her beautiful with a mirror and a comb. This is plain audacity to Majeed. The whole village is afraid of the anger of Majeed and his shrine but for the tiny little Jamila.
Jamila As a Tragic Character: Jamila is a tragic character because of her fate. Her husband, Majeed, cannot tolerate her behaviour. He decides to use physical power. Jamila shows her hatred by spitting at Majeed’s face. Majeed keep Jamila fastened to a side of the Shrine overnight. In the morning, he finds her lying fainted with a leg stretched out to the shrine.
In termination, we can say that Jamila is a social victim and rebellious character in the novel “Tree Without Roots.” At first, she raises her hand against religious superstition, social system, and child marriage. She is the great and brave woman in the novel.