The main theme of the story "The Quilt" by Ismat Chughtai is female sexuality and desire. Some key points:
- The story focuses on the intimate relationship between two young women, Begum Jan and her servant Lajwanti. Their physical intimacy is portrayed as natural female bonding and curiosity, challenging social taboos.
- Chughtai boldly depicts scenes of lesbian intimacy between the two women, which was highly controversial and taboo in conservative 1940s India. This highlighted female sexuality openly.
- The women experience pleasure and intimacy with each other out of natural human curiosity and desire, rejecting the social stigma around their relationship.
- The themes of female agency, intimacy and pleasure challenge patri