Tariq Mahmood Awan

I was browsing the CSS English papers and suddenly came across a unique essay question: frailty, thy name is a woman. Firstly, the topic of the essay bamboozled me; why the hell? It should have been a part of an essay to dissect the competence of a civil servant. What is the correlation of the term with that of civil services in Pakistan? However, I just realized the paper setter might have been a teacher of English Literature and would have wanted to recruit philosopher civil servants on the likes of philosopher kings by Plato, or he might have focussed on the female aspirants to showcase their conviction to renounce administratively the term of the frailty of womankind. However, I suddenly manoeuvred the idea and spontaneously thought about writing on the topic in the style of literary escapism. Then, I realized that the term involves different layers of feminism and might cause controversy as feminists do not even spare literary aesthetical expressions.

The term “frailty, thy name is woman” is a famous quote from Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, spoken by the protagonist Hamlet in his first soliloquy. He uses this phrase to express his disgust and disappointment with his mother, Gertrude, who married his uncle Claudius shortly after his father’s death. Hamlet sees this as a sign of his mother’s weakness and infidelity, and he generalizes this to all women, implying that they are all frail and fickle in character. This term has been widely discussed and criticized by various literary critics, especially from a feminist perspective.
The term reflects Hamlet’s complex and conflicted psychological state, as he is torn between his love and loyalty for his father and his anger and resentment towards his mother. It also shows his disillusionment with the world, as he sees it as a place full of corruption, deception, and hypocrisy. Therefore, The term effectively conveys Hamlet’s inner turmoil and his tragic flaw of indecision.

The term also highlights the theme of appearance versus reality, which is prevalent throughout the play. Hamlet accuses his mother of being frail and unfaithful, but he himself is guilty of putting on an antic disposition and pretending to be mad. He also questions the sincerity of Ophelia’s love, but he himself is unable to express his true feelings for her. The term thus exposes the irony and contradiction of Hamlet’s character and actions. The term also serves as a contrast to the strong and heroic image of Hamlet’s father, who is portrayed as a noble and valiant king who died defending his country from a foreign invasion. Hamlet idolizes his father and tries to emulate him, but he also feels inadequate and unworthy of his legacy. The term, therefore, creates a dramatic tension between Hamlet’s idealized past and his disillusioned present.

Then, the term is a misogynistic and sexist expression that degrades and devalues women as a whole. It implies that women are inherently weak, dependent, and unfaithful and that they are responsible for the downfall of men. It also denies women their individuality and agency and reduces them to stereotypes and objects of male desire. Nevertheless, the term is also unfair and unjust to the female characters in the play, especially Gertrude and Ophelia, who are not given enough voice and agency to defend themselves or to explain their motives and actions. Gertrude is not necessarily frail or unfaithful but rather a pragmatic and realistic woman who marries Claudius to secure her political and social status and protect her son from the dangers of the court. Ophelia is not necessarily fickle or insincere but rather a loyal and obedient daughter who follows the orders of her father and brother and who suffers from the pressure and manipulation of the patriarchal society.

Furthermore, the term is also outdated and irrelevant to the modern context, where women have gained more rights and opportunities and where gender roles and stereotypes have been challenged and changed. The term does not reflect the diversity and complexity of women’s experiences and identities, nor does it acknowledge women’s contributions and achievements in various fields and domains. Then, there is no need to be more serious about the term because a fictional character pronounces it and is only subjective to particular characters and circumstances. Therefore, women should leave it aside from being a literary expression of a character in a depression against his beloved.

Women in Pakistan’s civil services are making their mark. At least they are winning the CSS/PMS examinations easily. The contribution of female civil servants in civil services in Pakistan is a topic that deserves recognition and appreciation. Female civil servants have played a vital role in various fields and domains of the public sector, such as education, health, social welfare, administration, diplomacy, and security. Significantly, they also contribute structurally, as men do, because civil services do not provide an environment where civil servants can be innovative or creative. Accordingly, female civil servants have increased the representation and participation of women in the government’s decision-making processes and policy formulation. They have brought diverse perspectives and experiences to the table and have advocated for the rights and interests of women and other marginalized groups. They have also acted as role models and mentors for other aspiring women who want to join the civil service.

Then, it is also a matter of debate whether female civil servants have improved the quality and efficiency of public service delivery and governance. No doubt, they have demonstrated professionalism, competence, integrity, and diligence in their work, but they still need to show the difference in contribution. As far as their positive role is concerned, female civil servants have contributed to the country’s social and economic development. They have also implemented various programs and projects that aim to improve the living standards and well-being of the people, especially the poor and vulnerable segments of society like their counterparts. They have also promoted the education, health, empowerment, and inclusion of women and girls and have worked to eliminate the barriers and challenges that they face in society.

Lastly, the conduct, performance, and execution of men and women in the civil services are the same. Women are as honest as men, and they are also as corrupt as men. Women are as competent as men, and they are also as incompetent as men. Women work like men, and men work like women. Both of them enjoy the structural support and also perform according to the limitations of the structures. Accordingly, women are not frail as long as they enjoy structural and positional support. It might be the only way to strengthen the women in Pakistan.