Woman Between Islam and Western Society
3. Western Woman
~ 153 ~
This, in turn, has resulted in the emergence of a
permissive society with all the attendant social and
familial evils. One such problem is typified by Greta
Garbo, a Swedish film actress who was one of the
most famous Hollywood personalities of her time.
In her heyday she had been greatly sought after, but
when she grew old, her charms faded and her
friends, one by one, deserted her. On the 18th of
September 1980, at the age of 75, she celebrated her
birthday all by herself. Her biographer, who was
present at that time, asked whether she regretted
having opted for a single and, consequently, lonely
life. Greta Garbo replied sadly: “Not getting
married was a mistake.”
30
In their prime, such women attract people by their
youthful charm. But as they advance in years, they
lose their attraction for the opposite sex, and their
friends forsake them like rats leaving a sinking
ship. It becomes less and less possible for them to
continue to enjoy all the different kinds of
entertainment which had formerly engaged them
day in and day out. Too late, it dawns on them
that all their past activities have been of no value.
They had been living in a dream world from
