رشید امجد کے افسانوں میں معتوب کرداروں کا علامتی اظہار: ایک تنقیدی مطالعہ

THE SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF MARGINALIZED CHARACTERS IN RASHEED AMJAD’S SHORT STORIES: A CRITICAL STUDY

Abstract

This research critically examines the symbolic representation of marginalized characters in the short stories of Rasheed Amjad. The study explores how Amjad portrays individuals suppressed, rejected, or ignored under political, social, and psychological systems, turning them into symbolic embodiments of resistance. Through an analysis of selected works such as A Common Man’s Dream, The City Grown in a Flowerpot, The Scene of Barren Blood, and Sinking Identity, the paper highlights two main categories of marginalized characters: those oppressed by external political and social forces, and those internally defeated by existential and psychological crises. Amjad’s use of symbolism and abstraction transforms these characters from mere narrative figures into multi-layered metaphors reflecting collective societal experiences. The research demonstrates that his narrative technique intertwines internal conflict with external realities, creating a nuanced discourse on resistance, identity, and the human condition under oppressive systems. Ultimately, the paper argues that Rasheed Amjad’s short fiction enriches the symbolic tradition of Urdu literature by giving marginalized characters an enduring intellectual and artistic presence.