Marginalization of Women by Salman Ahmed Rushdie

2710 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Feminist point of view of Salman Rushdie's Midnight Childten

Salman Ahmed Rushdie is an eminent postcolonial diasporic writer of Indian origin. He was born in a Muslim family in 1947, the year India became free from the clutches of the colonial rule. The novelist and essayist of international repute, Rushdie, started his writing with the fictional work Grimus (1975). His second novel Midnights’ Children (1981) won the Booker’s Prize. The text focuses on the simultaneous independence and partition of the two nations. He came into thick of controversies because of his novel, The Satanic Verses. (1988). The Muslims considered the novel to be blasphemous. The publication of the novel led to a wide range of demonstrations and protests worldwide. The publication of the text became dearer for him as the Muslim religious leader of Iran issued a fatwa. The fatwa meant that the man who takes away the life of Rushdie would get one billion dollars as a reward. As such, he continues to live under threat to his life till today. Rushdie’s fame as a novelist is immense. More than seven hundred journal articles and numerous book chapters have been published on it. In the text Shame, Rushdie gives his account of societal and political life in Pakistan. He is satirical of the social conditions in the country which are the resultant of undemocratic, dictatorial and unlawful political practices of the leaders of Pakistan. The present paper attempts to analyze the issue of marginalization of women in the patriarchal society of Pakistan. Rushdie tries to highlight the denial of rights to the Pakistani masses, especially the women, by the rulers. Rushdie portrays the gloomy picture of the Pakistani society in which the women have to face acute sufferings and oppression and suppression has become the talk of the...

... middle of paper ...

...dignity and allowed to enjoy rights at par with men. Given the opportunity to work, the women with their intellect and energy can surely work wonders for the nation and the society.

Works Cited

Ahmad, Aijaz. In Theory, Classes, Nations, Literatures. London: Verso, 1992. Print.
Mittapali, Rajeshwar and Kuortti, Jeol Salman Rushdie New Critical Insights. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers and Distributors, 2003.
Parmeswaran, Uma. Salman Rushdie’s Early Fiction Rawat Publications New Delhi, 2007.
Rushdie, Salman. Shame London: Vintage, 1995.
Ray Mohit K and Kundu, Rama eds. Salman Rushdie Critical Essays. New Delhi: Atlantic, 2006.

INTERNET SOURCES
Deszcz Justyna “Rushdie’s Attempt at a Feminist Fairytale Reconfiguration” FolkloreVol.115, No.1 (April2004):2744(http://www.jstor.org/stable/30035141) Accessed on 05/10/2012)

Show More
Related

  • Usama, The Middle East, and The Crusades

    1516 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ibn Munqidh, Usama. "From Memoirs." McNeill, William and Marilyn Robinson Waldman. The Islamic World. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1973. 184-206.

    Read More

  • Discuss Orwell's treatment of individualism in 1984

    1525 Words  | 4 Pages

    Rushdie, Salman. `Outside the Whale' Imaginary Homelands: Essays and criticisms 1981-1991 Penguin Books Ltd. (1992)

    Read More

  • LA County Museum of Art

    1267 Words  | 3 Pages

    Print. Doak, Robin. Empire of the Islamic World. Rev. ed.

    Read More

  • Hero's Journey

    557 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are many stories that follow Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, and tells the tale of a Heroic character. These fables introduces us to heroes that begin their journey in an ordinary place, then receive a call to enter an unknown world full of bizarre powers and peculiar events. These heroes often display great traits, such as bravery or intelligence, that defines their character. One of these heroic's tales is Haroun and the Sea of Stories, telling the adventures of a young man named Haroun. This essay will prove that Haroun from Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie is a hero, because he possess heroic qualities. Haroun shows his heroic qualities by overcoming obstacles, helping his friends, and having good intentions.

    Read More

  • Women’s Rights within A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini is set in Afghanistan. It covers about a 50 year time period from the 1950’s to the mid 2000’s. Hosseini uses allusions to actual Afghani events to depict the ever changing liberties that the women of Afghanistan endure with the lack of stability in Afghanistan’s government.

    Read More

  • The Handmaids Tale: Oppression of Women for Male Political Gain

    1779 Words  | 4 Pages

    Callaway, Alanna A., "Women disunited : Margaret Atwood's The handmaid's tale as a critique of feminism" (2008). Master's Theses. Paper 3505.

    Read More

  • The Perforated Sheet by Salman Rushdie

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    When discussing the controversial authors of Indian literature, one name should come to mind before any other. Salman Rushdie, who is best known for writing the book “Midnights Children.” The first two chapters of “Midnights Children” are known as “The Perforated Sheet”. In “The Perforated Sheet” Rushdie utilizes magic realism as a literary device to link significant events and their effects on the lives of Saleem’s family to a changing India. In fact, it is in the beginning of the story that the reader is first exposed to Rushdie’s use of magic realism when being introduced to Saleem. “On the stroke of midnight/clocks joined palms” and “the instant of India’s arrival at independence. I tumbled forth into the world”(1711). Rushdie’s description of the clocks “joining palms” and explanation of India’s newfound independence is meant to make the reader understand the significance of Saleem’s birth. The supernatural action of the clocks joining palms is meant to instill wonder, while independence accentuates the significance of the beginning of a new era. Rushdie also utilizes magic realism as an unnatural narrative several times within the story to show the cultural significance of events that take place in the story in an abnormal way.

    Read More

  • The Reluctant Fundamentalist

    2167 Words  | 5 Pages

    Hamid’s fiction deals with varied issues: from infidelity to drug trade in the subcontinent and, in the light of contemporary developments, about Islamic identity in a globalised world. His first novel, Moth Smoke (2000) won a Betty Trask Award and was shortlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award in 2000. His other novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, the Decibel Award and the South Bank Award for Literature. This book serves as a testament to his elegant style as he deftly captures the straining relationship between America and Pakistan.

    Read More

  • Women´s Role in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

    891 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout most of history women generally have had fewer legal rights and career opportunities than men. Wifehood and motherhood were regarded as women's most significant professions. In the 20th century, however, women won the right to vote and increased their educational and job opportunities. Perhaps most important, they fought for and to a large degree accomplished a reevaluation of traditional views of their role in society.

    Read More

  • Feminist Criticism Heart Of Darkness

    3087 Words  | 7 Pages

    My research paper is entitled, Analyzing Heart of Darkness through a Feminist Lens. Through this paper, I will investigate and examine Heart of Darkness by means of Feminist Criticism and literary theory. I aspire to thoroughly analyze the entire narrative, in order to pull out and pinpoint various aspects and examples linked to feminist theory. I want to investigate and spotlight specific occurrences, in the novel, where characteristics of Feminist Criticism can be found or applied. I specifically want to look at the tree women characters introduced in the text; “The Intended” “The Mistress” and Marlow’s aunt. I also want to prove that Heart of Darkness is a text that openly conflicts with the basis of feminism.

    Read More

  • Women Deserve the Same Rights as Men

    1285 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since women have fought for a long time and proven their importance in society, they deserve the same rights as men. Before women can prove they too deserve the same rights as men, they must first put to rest the myths and beliefs of their status in this country. This myth of the female status in the United States, and in most other places in the world, has always been the same. It is the belief that women should be in the kitchen, taking care of the kids, and the house, amongst other beliefs. However, in today's society, this is considered ludicrous.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Black Album and Rushdie's The Satanic Verses

    2541 Words  | 6 Pages

    British writer C.C. Colton once claimed, "Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but--live for it" (Copeland 345). Indeed, if nothing else, Hanif Kureishi's The Black Album shows the depths to which people concern themselves with questions of religion, ethnicity, and the identity associated with them. Kureishi's themes and symbolism work within a larger context of the politics of identity, race, and nationality. Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses and the larger religious question associated with it, serve to polarize the British community between Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as to polarize people supporting liberation and those supporting containment. Combined with other cultural references, Kureishi uses the literary allusion to create his themes and symbolism.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Mariama Bâ's So Long A Letter

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, there have been constant power struggles between men and women, placing the male population at a higher position than the female. Therefore, in this patriarchal system women have always been discriminated against simply due to the fact that they are women. Their rights to vote, to be educated and essentially being treated equally with men was taken away from them and they were viewed as weak members of society whose successes depend on men. However, this has not prevented them from fighting for what they believe in and the rights they are entitled to. On the contrary, it has motivated them to try even harder and gain these basic societal rights through determination and unity.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    Salman Rushdie’s novel Midnight’s Children employs strategies which engage in an exploration of History, Nationalism and Hybridity. This essay will examine three passages from the novel which demonstrate these issues. Furthermore, it will explore why each passage is a good demonstration of these issues, how these issues apply to India in the novel, and how the novel critiques these concepts.

    Read More

  • Symbolism In The Prophet's Hair By Sallman Rushdie

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his short story, “The Prophet’s Hair,” Salman Rushdie make use of magic realism, symbolization and situational irony to comment on class, religion, and the fragility of human life. The story is brimming with ironic outcomes that add to the lighthearted and slightly fantastic tone. Rushdie’s use of the genre magic realism capitalizes on the absurdity of each situation but makes the events relevant to readers’ lives. In addition, the irony in the story serves as a way to further deepen Rushdie’s commentary on class and religion. Finally, his use of symbolization focuses on the concept of glass, and just how easily it can be broken.

    Read More

More about Marginalization of Women by Salman Ahmed Rushdie

Open Document