It highlights the lack of agency women have in critical life decisions, such as marriage and divorce. The Struggle for Dignity:
Dehumanized by these practices and the refusal of the men in her life to see her as an individual with dignity, Nadira seeks an escape. The novel concludes tragically, often interpreted as her finding solace in death to avoid further subjugation. Key Characters Breaking Ties By Sara Abubakar Summary Pdf
After realizing her father's deception, Nadira and Rashid attempt to reunite. However, religious and community laws demand she undergo nikah halala . This requires her to marry another man for a day, spend the night with him, and then divorce him before she can remarry Rashid. It highlights the lack of agency women have
Zay turns to her mother, , expecting support. Instead, she is met with cold pragmatism. "All men stray," her mother says. "Your job is to look the other way and secure the marriage." Her father, a wealthy businessman, views Zay as a bargaining chip to merge his company with Kamal’s father’s corporation. Isolated and betrayed, Zay realizes she has no ally in her own bloodline. Zay turns to her mother, , expecting support