The intention of this essay is to give one important literary reflection of how female Muslim existence is presented in the contemporary English speaking novel. The choice to concentrate on a female Muslim author results from the fact that (female) Muslim writing at the moment represents one of the strongest and most influential movements of writers coming from an Islamic background. It is novelists like Bapsi Sidhwa, Qaisra Sharaz, Umera Ahmad, Kamila Shamsie, Sara Suleri or Monica Ali who have shown in their writings that most publications of female writers seem to present their characters in a more convincing and more multiple way than their male counterparts.
The structure of this essay is as follows. The beginning will consist of some sort of background information which will cover fields all of which will help to understand the background these writers (and their characters) come from. This literary analysis therefore starts with a (critical) reflection of Muslim writing. This will then be followed by an excursion on the concept of hybridity under an Islamic focus because female hyprid existence in the West is the central parameter chosen here.
This essay will be followed by a closer analysis of Fadia Faquir's novel My name is Salma (2007) in order to give an example of female Muslim existence in the West and in the East. It is exactly this span of two opposing worlds which finally brings about the main character's failure and death.
The end of this essay then will result in some sort of outlook where female Muslim writing might head to.
Table of Contents
1. Muslim Writing - A Survey
1a. Contemporary Muslim Writing
1b. Contemporary British Literature and the Role of Muslim Writing
1c. Postcolonial Writing and the Position of Muslim Writers
2. Hybrid Description and Hybrid Identity under the Focus of Islam and Islamic Fundamentalism
3. The Central Parameter for an Interpretation - the Hybrid
4. Outlook
5. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This essay provides a literary analysis of how female Muslim existence is presented in contemporary English-speaking novels, with a specific focus on Fadia Faquir's "My name is Salma" (2007). It explores the intersection of migration, identity construction, and the impact of Islamic fundamentalism on Muslim life in the West, particularly emphasizing the experiences of women trapped between two opposing worlds.
- The evolution of contemporary Muslim writing in Great Britain.
- The concept of hybridity and its significance for migrant literature.
- The role of religion and Islam in defining modern identity patterns.
- Critical analysis of female characters' struggle with patriarchal structures and gender roles.
- The "clash of civilizations" and its representation in post-9/11 literature.
Excerpt from the Book
3. The Central Parameter for an Interpretation - the Hybrid Existence
Fadia Faquir's novel My name is Salma (2007) is - strictly speaking - a critical analysis of female Muslim existence in the Far East and Great Britain thus showing the complexity of a Muslim woman who tries to make her (hybrid) living in totally different society. Although this is a commonly used pattern to do the total and radical way of these tow hemispheres is more convincing than in many other novels working with this method because most writers concentrate on one social background at one time. The decision of the author to use first person narrative as a technical device helps to strengthen this because of its more emotional approach for the reader. The narrator takes the reader by the hand and - from the very first page onwards - leads the reader from Hima (Arabic: shelter; solace), a small Arabic village to Great Britain and then back again to the Orient where the main character dies.
The choice of two places, here the Levant, there England and the description of two contrasting life models already hint at a hybrid background. The story sets off with a quite romantic description of Salma's village Hima, however already contains a stereotyped and anti-female attitude when the main character already starts off to say that her age made her "ripe and ready to be plucked" ( MS, 2007: 7).
This male chauvinist attitude with the help of natural pictures is later on continued in statements by her parents such as "Your breasts are like melons" (ibid.: 13) or "'Your tuft of wool is red' my mother said 'you are implusive'" (ibid.: 13).
Summary of Chapters
1. Muslim Writing - A Survey: This chapter provides an overview of the development of Muslim literature in the West, focusing on how writers challenge stereotypes and address issues of discrimination, identity, and the influence of 9/11 on the Muslim community.
1a. Contemporary Muslim Writing: This section details how Muslim writers in Great Britain and beyond use their literature to contest extremist frames and reflect the emotional situation of Muslims caught between immigration and their heritage.
1b. Contemporary British Literature and the Role of Muslim Writing: This part examines the integration of Islamic themes into the contemporary British novel, viewing it as a platform for critical descriptions of migration and the construction of identity.
1c. Postcolonial Writing and the Position of Muslim Writers: This section discusses the shift in the English novel towards postcolonial perspectives, highlighting the role of migrant writers in renovating the genre and incorporating themes of religion and ethnicity.
2. Hybrid Description and Hybrid Identity under the Focus of Islam and Islamic Fundamentalism: This chapter analyzes how the framework of hybrid existence influences the characters' development and their search for purpose and authenticity in a changing world.
3. The Central Parameter for an Interpretation - the Hybrid: This chapter focuses on the analysis of Fadia Faquir's novel, exploring the binary tension between the Levant and England and the tragic struggle of the protagonist, Salma.
4. Outlook: This section summarizes the novel’s significance as a commentary on female identity, gender inequality, and the potential for a dialogue between different cultures despite the protagonist's ultimate failure.
5. Bibliography: This section lists the primary and secondary literature utilized throughout the essay.
Keywords
Muslim Writing, Female Identity, Hybridity, Postcolonial Literature, Migration, Islam, Islamic Fundamentalism, Gender Roles, Diaspora, Diaspora Literature, Fadia Faquir, My name is Salma, Identity Construction, Orientalism, Patriarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of this literary essay?
The essay aims to provide a critical literary reflection on how female Muslim existence is depicted in contemporary English-speaking novels, focusing specifically on how these authors navigate the tensions of living between two worlds.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include identity formation, the impact of migration, the representation of Islam in literature, the role of gender in patriarchal societies, and the concept of cultural hybridity.
What is the main research question of the study?
The study investigates how authors with a Muslim background integrate their personal cultural heritage and religious identity into the novel to challenge Western stereotypes and explore the complexity of hybrid existence.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, drawing on postcolonial theories and sociological perspectives on migration, identity, and gender to interpret Fadia Faquir's novel.
What content is covered in the main section of the essay?
The main section covers an overview of contemporary Muslim writing, the theoretical framework of hybridity and postcolonialism, and a detailed character and thematic analysis of Fadia Faquir's novel "My name is Salma".
Which keywords best characterize this academic work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as Muslim writing, hybridity, postcolonial literature, identity construction, and the intersection of gender and religion.
How does the author define the "hybrid" in the context of the analyzed novel?
The author views hybridity as a state of living in between different cultures and religions, where the protagonist, Salma, attempts to reconcile her traditional Muslim background with her experience as an immigrant in Western society, leading to both potential and failure.
Why does Fadia Faquir use the first-person narrative in "My name is Salma"?
The author employs first-person narrative as a technical device to create a more emotional and intimate approach for the reader, allowing them to experience the protagonist's inner turmoil and the contradictions of her hybrid life more deeply.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Author), 2016, Female Muslim Characters and the Lure of the Hybrid. "My name is Salma" by Fadia Faquir, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313619
