Before She Sleeps: A Hyper Realistic Dystopian Novel set in the Future and the Politics of Reproduction a Feminist Critique by Bina Shah

Before She Sleeps: A Hyper Realistic Dystopian Novel set in the Future and the Politics of Reproduction a Feminist Critique by Bina Shah. Abhilasha Kullu Ph.D Scholar, Department of English Ranchi University, Ranchi Author: Abhilasha Kullu Email id: [email protected] Phone- 8210187964/ 80581016606 Abstract Bina Shah’s Novel Before she sleeps presents a Dystopian future where gender imbalances and authoritarian governance lead to the systematic subjugation and commodification of women. It also examines portrayal of Gender Oppression, Patriarchal control and Female Resistance in a Post apocalyptic society. The study situates the Novel within the framework of Feminist Dystopian Literature and highlights its significance in contemporary Gender Discourse. Through an analysis of themes, narrative techniques and character development, Before She Sleeps critiques the consequences of extreme Patriarchy while offering a vision of resilience and collective resistance among women. This Novel examines through a feminist lens, analyzing themes of female agency, resistance and the socio-political structures that enforce Patriarchal control. By situating the narrative within postcolonial and feminist theoretical frameworks, the study explores how Bina Shah critiques contemporary societal norms and envisions pathways to empowerment and autonomy for women. The Novel also has pervasive misogyny embedded in both societal structures and personal relationships, illustrating how this oppression manifests in the lives of women and affects their identities. Through the journey of her protagonists, Bina Sha highlights the complexities of Female Resistance and Resilience, ultimately calling for a reevaluation of Gender roles and the importance of women’s autonomy in a world dominated by patriarchal constraints. The Novel also portray polygamous relationships, envisions a world where Gender imbalance, resulting from a catastrophic loss of women, leads to enforced polygamy as a mechanism of social stability. Polygamy serves as both a critique of patriarchal control and an exploration of women’s resistance in oppressive systems. It presents a world where Patriarchal Oppression has reached its peak, transforming women’s lives into a constant struggle for survival. The Green City, a totalitarian regime, exerts extreme control over women’s reproductive rights and social roles forcing them into a rigid system of servitude. It also delves into the ways in which the female characters resist, both overtly and covertly, as well as the historical context and the cultural context that makes such resistance significant. Keyword:- Patriarchy, Misogyny, Autonomy, Reluctance, Rebellion, Revolt and Resistance.