The sacred cage: Exploring emotional incest and family dynamics in The Holy Woman by Qaisra Shahraz

Abstract

This research probes the diverse dynamics of the family system and emotional incest in The Holy Woman by Qaisra Shahraz through the theoretical framework of Murray Bowen’s Family System Theory. It examines Habib’s emotional dependency on Zarri, which makes her a victim of emotional incest. His emotive reliance on Zarri is analyzed through the Bowen concepts of differentiation of self, emotional fusion, family projection, multigenerational transmission, and triangulation. These dynamics transform Zarri into a vessel for her father's emotional security and unsettled anxieties. This paper studies the way Habib constitutes emotional incest by manipulating her in the name of honor and religion, such as marrying her to the Quran. It is a non-sexual violence, but it blurs the boundary between a parent and a child in which the guardian uses a child as an emotional surrogate. Habib justifies his decision by using religion and culture as a cover to hide his insecurities, but it also uncovers the way a patriarchal-structured society serves as an internal mechanism of the family system. This study also highlights that females are not only submissive because of external pressure, but family dynamics also play a crucial role in female self-sacrifice and silence. In a nutshell, The Holy Woman shifts the focus from societal oppression to family intrapsychic oppression. The psychological reading exposes the way cultural norms destroy women's identity and create a sacred cage for them through emotional violence in the name of honor and religion.