ORIENTALIZING THE ORIENTAL WOMEN: A RE-ORIENTALIST STUDY OF KAMILA SHAMSIE’S HOME FIRE AND A PASSAGE TO INDIA

Abstract

In this research the researchers intend to analyze the literature created by both the colonial and postcolonial writers from the perspectives of ‘Orientalism’ and ‘Re-orientalism’. We will see how the female characters belonging to both the eras remain marginalized and subjugated. Orientalism sees how the orients have been orientalized by the Westerners. Using their literary writings as a means to depict their ideology, the literary writers of colonial background misrepresent women of native origin. For colonials the native women remain embodied with mysterious conduct, therefore these colonial writers rarely make an attempt to represent these women as even living creatures. Rather, native women in these narratives appear to be indistinct figures displaying insubstantial features. Therefore, the native women appear voiceless in these narratives. Postcolonial literature, created by female writers coming from former colonies, attempts to counter the colonial writings by depicting women in the central position. However, the representation becomes stereotypical in its own manner. The portrayal in these narratives still upholds the marginality in them. Native women again become victim of negativity. Female characters, instead of getting emancipation, appear to be embodiment of negative traits like excessively manipulative, liars, and morally corrupt. Women of these postcolonial narratives represent the degenerative characteristics instead of representing the high native cultural values.  This study will draw a comparison between A Passage to India (2002), a colonial narrative, and Home Fire (2017), a Postcolonial narrative, with reference to representation of women. The researchers aim to apply the theoretical frameworks of Orientalism and Re-orientalism suggested by Edward Said and Lisa Lau respectively