The present research aims at exploring the themes of disillusionment and alienation with regard to the construction of identity in two postcolonial novels by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke (MS, 2000) and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (HGFRRA, 2013) taking theoretical insights from the works of Karl Marx (1883), Homi K. Bhabha (1994) and others. A common thread running through these novels is the juxtapositioning of estrangement and alienation while fighting for the basic right of getting prospects to thrive in life. How the cultural and identity conflicts in developing Asia emerged as the reason for personal estrangement of characters from reality; how the protagonists were found to be fragmented and how they used underhand ways to get rich is explored in Hamid’s selected works.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
1.2 Disillusionment and Alienation in Literature
1.2.1 Alienation
1.2.2 Disillusionment
1.2.3 Post 9/11 literature
1.3 Writer’s Background
1.4 Research Statement
1.5 Objectives
1.6 Significance of the Study
1.7 Structure of the study
1.8 Limitations and Delimitations of the study
2 Literature Review
2.1 Disillusionment and Alienation in Twentieth Century Literature
2.1.1 Disillusionment and alienation in Western literature after World Wars I & II
2.1.2 Disillusionment and alienation in Asian and African literature
2.1.3 International Appreciation of Hamid’s Works
3 Research Methology
3.1 Type of Research
3.2 Theoretical Framework
3.3 Method of Research
3.4 Resources
4 Content Analysis
4.1 Analysis of Moth Smoke
4.1.1 Overview of the novel
4.1.2 Analysis of the Novel Moth Smoke (2000):*
4.1.2.1 Disillusionment and Alienation in Characters of Moth Smoke (2000)
4.1.2.2 Thematic Focus of Moth Smoke (2000)
4.1.2.2.1 Allegory of Moth
4.1.2.3 The Social Scenario Causing Alienation and Disillusionment
4.1.2.4 Cultural Conflicts Leading to Disillusionment and Alienation
4.1.2.5 The Economic and Political Scenario Causing Alienation and Disillusionment
4.1.2.6 Use of Pseudonym in Moth Smoke
4.1.2.7 Existentialism and Pessimism in Hamid’s Writings
4.2 Analysis of “How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia”
4.2.1 Overview of the Novel
4.2.2 Analysis of How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (2013):*
4.2.2.1 Disillusionment and Alienation in Characters of How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
4.2.2.1.1 Female Characters
4.2.2.2 Thematic Focus of How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
4.2.2.3 The Social Scenario Causing Alienation and Disillusionment in How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
4.2.2.4 Cultural Conflict leading to Disillusionment and Alienation in How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (2013)
4.2.2.5 The Economic and Political Scenario Causing Alienation and Disillusionment in How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
4.2.2.6 Stereotyping in How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
4.2.2.7 Existentialism and Pessimism in Hamid’s Writings
6 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The research explores the themes of disillusionment and alienation in postcolonial novels by Mohsin Hamid, specifically examining how cultural and identity conflicts contribute to the fragmentation of characters striving for success in modern Asia.
- Postcolonial identity construction and cultural conflict.
- The socioeconomic causes of personal estrangement and alienation.
- Marxist and Bhabhian theoretical frameworks regarding identity and class.
- The shift from "rags to riches" as a catalyst for disillusionment.
Excerpt from the Book
Dara Shikoh- The Protagonist
Dara Shikoh is not only the protagonist but also the narrator of the novel ‘Moth Smoke’. He is portrayed as an alienated character from the very start of the novel till the end of it. Hamid (1971) portrays his protagonist Dara as ‘A hard man with shadowed eyes, manacled, cuffed, disheveled, proud, erect. A man capable of anything and afraid of nothing… powerful, tragic and dangerous’ (MS, 2000:8). Hamid’s depiction of the protagonist grabs readers’ attention. Resistance through Dara’s attire and posture announces his inner self-confidence and courage to face the challenges of life but he is unable to remain innocent. There is a lack of continuity in his personality as perceived by the psychologist Gleason (1983:911). Dara is colonized by social pressures, obstacles of justice and imbalanced relationships. His cuffed hands reveal his loss of identity because of his powerlessness. He is accused of murder of a child. The prosecutor directly states Dara as a criminal, a serpent and a monster, before listening to Dara’s point of view. Hamid (1971) writes, ‘Tender humanity screams in fear, confronted by such a monster (Dara), and conscience weeps with rage’ (MS, 2000:8). Dara narrates that he never corrupted anyone (MS, 2000:16). But the prosecutor pleads the case and portrays Dara as a corrupt person,
The accused has stretched out his neck beneath the heavy blade of Justice, and there is no question but that this blade must fall. For he has blood on his hands. Young blood. The blood of a child. He killed not out of anger, not out of scheme or plan or design. He killed as a serpent kills that which it does not intend to eat: he killed out of indifference. He killed because his nature is to kill, because the death of a child has no meaning for him (MS, 2000:8)
The re-presentation of his character by the lawyer induces an identity conflict within him and makes him unable to defend himself (Griffith et. al., 2006, 4:28). A pinch of inner weakness and inferiority complex is hinged within Dara which hampers him from giving words to his thoughts.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides the study's background, including socio-political context, key concepts, and the author's background.
2 Literature Review: Surveys existing theories on alienation, disillusionment, and cultural conflicts in post-colonial literature.
3 Research Methology: Outlines the qualitative approach used to analyze the novels through content analysis and post-colonial theory.
4 Content Analysis: Deep dives into Hamid's novels, examining specific characters, social scenarios, and economic impacts on the psyche.
6 Conclusion: Synthesizes findings on how disillusionment and alienation define the experience of the common man in post-colonial Asian societies.
Keywords
Alienation, Disillusionment, Post-colonialism, Identity Crisis, Mohsin Hamid, Moth Smoke, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, Cultural Conflict, Capitalism, Third World, Resistance, Existentialism, Socio-political, Pakistan, Feudalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research examines the themes of disillusionment and alienation in the postcolonial novels of Mohsin Hamid, specifically analyzing how cultural and identity crises affect characters in modern Asia.
Which novels by Mohsin Hamid are analyzed?
The study focuses on Moth Smoke (2000) and How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (2013).
What is the core research question?
It investigates how the post-colonial perspective and environmental factors induce disillusionment and alienation in characters who are undergoing identity and cultural transitions.
What scientific methodology is employed?
The work utilizes a qualitative, content-based analytical method, applying theories from thinkers like Karl Marx, Homi K. Bhabha, and Émile Durkheim.
What topics are covered in the main section of the paper?
The main content covers detailed character analyses, the social and economic landscapes of the Asian continent, and the role of cultural conflict in shaping individual identities.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include alienation, disillusionment, post-colonialism, identity crisis, capitalist pressure, and cultural rootlessness.
How does the protagonist of "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia" experience alienation?
The protagonist ("You") experiences alienation as a result of his migration to the city, his struggle to escape poverty, and the conflict between his past identity and his newfound materialistic goals.
What significance do the characters Dara and Ozi hold in "Moth Smoke"?
They represent the polarization of society, with their relationship serving as a microcosm of the social and moral decay rooted in corruption and unequal economic opportunities.
- Quote paper
- Farheen Shakir (Author), 2014, Disillusionment and Alienation in Hamid's selected works, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/345546
