Representation of Hegemonic Masculinity in Lillias Hamilton’s A Vizier’s Daughter; A Tale of the Hazara War

Abstract

This paper aims hegemonic masculinity in novel written by Lillias Hamilton, "A Vizier’s Daughter: A Tale of the Hazara War," conventional in the male-dominant Pashtun state of Afghanistan during the 1890s. The study utilizes R.W. Connell's collaborative critiques and applies hegemonic masculinity in the specific context of Afghanistan. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research employs close reading to analyze the portrayal of Pashtun hegemony in the novel. The Pashtuns in the narrative depict the Hazara as inferior, oppressed, and migrant, contrasting with the Hazara's self-perception of freedom. The character of Gul Begum exemplifies the consequences of Pashtun hegemony, suffering from oppression by characters like Ferad Shah. The findings highlight the Pashtuns' view of Hazara as sub-citizens, considering them inferior, enslaved, migrant, and laborers. The research underscores the evident hegemonic approach of the Pashtuns towards the Hazara, portraying them as outsiders and subordinates, oppressed and suppressed within the Afghan societal framework.