The Mad Woman at the Periphery of Provincial Society: A Comparative Reading of Joseph Addison’s “On Witchcraft – Story of Moll White” and Shawkat Osman’s “সৌদামিনী মালো”(Soudamini Malo)

Abstract

In the exploration of the portrayal of lone women pushed to the periphery of society, Joseph Addison's (1672-1719) essay "On Witchcraft – Story of Moll White" (1710) and Shawkat Osman's (1917-1998) সৌদামিনী মালো (1984) (Soudamini Malo) serve as illuminating case studies. This comparative analysis reveals the recurrent theme of societal oppression faced by these women building onto Gilbert and Gubar’s concept of ‘the mad woman in the attic’. The paper analyzes how Addison and Osman, through their male narrators, provide critical commentaries on societies that alienate solitary women. The narratives, despite their temporal and cultural differences, converge on the portrayal of marginalized women, prompting a call for discourse and societal introspection. The shared condition of 'the mad woman' in disparate cultural contexts emphasizes the urgent need for ongoing conversations surrounding gender, power, and societal expectations.