The Third Knocking Analysis

1.Introduction
In his plays, Nadeem uses certain tools to evoke different social issues. Such as in Burqavaganza, he used ‘burqa’ as a tool to show the hypocrisy of politicians and so-called religious scholars. Similarly, he uses the motif of resurrection to depict the perpetuation of the abuse of power in the play The Third Knock. Nadeem, using this motif, raises the issue of the exploitation of the weak and suggests its possible outcome.
The tenants of the compound (Katri) are shown suffering severe financial crisis and the landlord’s (Haji) order of eviction adds to their sufferings. Nadeem shows that how the cruel exploiters make life harder for the poor. He depicts the abuse of power by employing the idea of resurrection. But in this

For example in the play Woman of Sorrow, Dukini set herself to fire to protest against women trafficking. Nadeem could have shown her living passively considering her humiliation the word of fate but he did not. She registered her protest at the cost of her life. A similar free spirited woman (Jamila) is shown in the play The Third Knock. She tries to persuade the landlord (Haji) to let them live in Katri but he refuses. When all the young men of Katri are arrested in charge of Haji’s murder and he reappears, it is Jamila who kill him.She chooses death( as punishment of murder is death) over a pitiable life. This research paper will explore how, using the tool of resurrection, Nadeem shows the miseries of the helpless and the constant oppression of the powerful.
2. Literature Review
This research paper will focus on the abuse of power and motif of resurrection in Shahid Nadeem’s play The Third Knock. Nadeem shows the perpetuation of exploitation of the helpless at the hands of the powerful and uses the element of resurrection to achieve this motive.
This play is reviewed very precisely in The Friday Times as, “A passionate and fiery indictment of the economic social oppression” (n.p). The play is ‘fiery’ in its nature as it is suggested, through the murder of the landlord(Haji) that no more oppression should be exercised otherwise the oppressors will have to meet its consequences. Nadeem portrays the financial

The data has been analyzed qualitatively. The resources at the disposal of the researcher were the internet and The Professor Sirajuddin Library of Department of English Language and Literature of University of the Punjab, Lahore and Newspapers. They offered a host of critical articles on the abuse of power, essays and book reviews. The internet also proved helpful in understanding the main themes of Nadeem’s play through his biography. Moreover, the first hand experience of theatrical performance of this play by Ajoka proved very helpful in understanding the play. All these resources helped the researcher to analyze how Nadeem employs the motif of knock and by subversion of the concept of resurrection he presents the power of the rich and endless miseries of the