Socio-Psychological Analysis of Desire in Honor Killing in Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s Documentary, A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgivenes

Abstract

The study explores the socio-psychological aspects of desire in the Oscar award winning documentary of Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness”. It discusses the phenomena that forgiveness remains a desire in the case of honor killing when it is granted on the pressure of society. The idea is that Saba does not forgive his father and uncle
from his heart and mind and that unforgiveness turns into the shape of desire at her psychological level. The concept of Objet a of Lacan has been taken to provide a psychological context to this stance. Furthermore, forgiveness of Saba is not genuine and true because she shows unwillingness. In this way, this forgiveness is considered as unforgiveness. The study traces this
angle with Derrida’s concept of ‘Unforgiveness’ where he relates it with the false forgiveness because it is an unforgiven act. Additionally, it unmasks the ways of society which creates the myth of honor killing for its own sake. Saba’s uncle and father commits this crime only for the gratification their social role. They want to gain their fake honor which they themselves had
distorted earlier by attempting Saba’s murder. Here, the insights have been used from Rolande Barthes’ description of ‘Myth’ in order to expose social construction of such wicked crime of honor killing.