Wanderings of a pilgrim in search of the picturesque, Volume 2 (of 2) : $b During four-and-twenty years in the east; with revelations of life in the zenāna

Key themes

Gender Roles and the Zenana

Central to Volume 2, this theme delves into the lives of women within the zenana system – the secluded women's quarters in Indian households. Parlby's unique access allows her to explore the social structures, daily routines, constraints, and forms of agency available to Indian women. It offers a rare, firsthand account of purdah and its implications, challenging simplistic Western notions of 'Oriental' women as entirely oppressed while still acknowledging limitations.

Cultural Encounter and Exchange

This theme explores the complexities of interaction between British colonial society and indigenous Indian cultures. Parlby's narrative is a prime example of such an encounter, documenting her efforts to learn, understand, and sometimes critique Indian customs, while also reflecting on the impact of British presence. It highlights both the fascinations and misunderstandings inherent in cross-cultural interactions during the colonial era.

The Colonial Gaze and Orientalism

This theme examines how Parlby, as a British woman in colonial India, observes and represents the 'East.' While often empathetic and striving for accuracy, her perspective is inevitably shaped by her European background and the prevailing colonial attitudes of her time. It explores the romanticization, exoticism, and sometimes essentializing descriptions of Indian people and culture, typical of Orientalist discourse, even as she attempts to subvert it.

Worth discussing

How does Parlby's gender influence her observations and access, particularly concerning the zenana, compared to male travel writers of her era?