Rokeya’s Utopian Imagination: Revisiting Medieval Dream Allegory through a Feminist

This essay reinterprets Begum Rokeya’s Sultana’s Dream (1905) through the lens of the medieval dream vision genre, drawing parallels between Rokeya’s feminist utopia and traditional dream allegories. Sultana’s Dream envisions a fantastical world where women transcend the confines of purdah and the zenana, advocating for gender equality and education as central themes. By constructing the narrative as a dream journey, Rokeya aligns with the medieval tradition, using Sister Sara as a guiding figure akin to Boethius’ Lady Philosophy, a motif often seen in medieval dream visions like The Dream of the Rood. Sister Sara serves as a wise mentor, leading the protagonist towards a revelation of truth and a new societal order, reminiscent of the spiritual awakening found in medieval allegories. This paper argues that Rokeya’s utopian vision not only challenges the patriarchal structures of her time but also extends a broader critique relevant to both medieval and modern contexts. Through the dream framework, Rokeya crafts a feminist narrative that reimagines a self-sufficient, egalitarian society, demonstrating the transformative potential of the dream vision genre. Ultimately, the essay highlights how Sultana’s Dream bridges historical literary traditions with contemporary feminist discourse, presenting a radical vision of liberation and equality.