রিজিয়া রহমানের ছোটগল্পে দাম্পত্য সংকট/ The Crisis of Conjugal Relationships in Rizia Rahman's Short Stories

Abstract

This academic proposition investigates the evolving trajectory of the short story genre in Bangladesh, focusing specifically on the distinguished contributions of Rizia Rahman (b. 1939). Renowned for her artistic finesse and meticulous precision, Rahman establishes human life as the core essence of her creative prose. Her narratives are deeply anchored in modern realistic artistic concepts, actively capturing the intricate complexities, conflicts, and grievances inherent in everyday human experiences. Central to her literary foundation is a profound exploration of conjugal and marital relationships between men and women, an element that has become indispensable to contemporary modern prose. By employing advanced aesthetic techniques, Rahman constructs a diverse framework of artistic consciousness to vividly depict the underlying domestic crises and psychological dynamics that define modern life.

The primary objective of this study is to analyze how Rahman transcends the conventional boundaries of marital discourse to map out the true crisis of conjugal relationships. While she addresses highly familiar tropes of domestic disruption, such as the intrusion of a third party within a marriage, her fiction extensively explores numerous other structural and emotional factors that drive relational decay. By examining a selected corpus of her short stories, this research aims to systematically observe the complex movements of the human psyche. The scope of this exploration extends beyond the explicitly fractured bonds of deteriorated marriages, delving deeply into the profound, latent psychological mysteries that exist within seemingly happy couples. Through a rigorous textual analysis, this study attempts to peel back the deceptive external veneers of respectability and social stability to uncover the authentic, raw inner dynamics operating between men and women.

Furthermore, this investigation demonstrates how these localized, domestic tensions serve as a micro-cosmic reflection of the broader socio-historical milieu. As the internal relationships of her characters unfold, a vivid and compelling portrait of contemporary society simultaneously emerges. Consequently, this paper posits that Rahman’s short stories operate not merely as individual narratives of domestic discord, but as vital socio-cultural testaments written within the specific socio-historical context of contemporary Bangladesh. Ultimately, this abstract outlines a comprehensive framework for evaluating Rizia Rahman's nuanced realism, highlighting her capacity to transform the crisis of conjugal relationships into a profound aesthetic commentary on the modern human condition.