The Duality of Voyeuristic and Phallocentric Tokens in K.S. Maniam’s “Mala”

Abstract

This paper attempts to examine the Notions of voyeuristic and phallocentric tokens in K.S. Maniam’s “Mala.” In essence, the study tries to scrutinize the inherent relationship between males and females through psychic drives. These drives are mainly motivated by social milieus which control the behaviors of males and females. Therefore, males and females abide by the social manners that make them different from each other. Accordingly, my study will analyze the characters of Maniam’s “Mala.” It will specifically concentrate on female behaviors and how they are depicted in a patriarchal way. Furthermore, the analysis will tackle Maniam’s notion of voyeuristic and phallocentric ideas projected in the story. These ideas are associated with feminism and gender studies that try to bridge the gap between males and females. In this respect, my study will analyze the female protagonist Mala that tries to be equal to men in her male-dominated society. The protagonist embodies Maniam’s critique of females and their inferiority to males. Moreover, the concepts of voyeurism and phallocentrism will be applied to explore the protagonist’s internal drives caused by traditional “feminist” domestic affairs.