Character-based study of Riffat Siraj’s short story collection “Suchay Moti Jaisay Log”

Abstract

This research study examines the artistic and intellectual dimensions of characterization in Riffat Siraj’s short story collection “Suchay Moti Jaisay Log” (People like True Pearls). The characters presented in this collection reflect social realities, psychological complexities, and inner conflicts. The writer has not portrayed her characters merely as elements of a story; rather, she presents them as representatives of a living and breathing society, where each character reveals their surroundings, circumstances, and values as an integral part of existence. The study further clarifies that the characters in these stories generally belong to the middle class, highlighting issues such as social injustice, class disparity, and moral decline. Female characters, in particular, appear as composed, self-aware, and sensitive individuals who become silent symbols of resistance against social oppression. In contrast, male characters often display a sense of inferiority, inner turmoil, and, at times, a glimpse of reform.