A STUDY OF FUNDAMENTALISM AND CULTURAL HEGEMONY IN THE ‘AMERICAN DERVISH’ BY AYAD AKHTAR

Abstract

The studyfocuses on how literary texts reflect the social and cultural phenomena dominantly existing in social contexts. The researchers have tried to see Akhtar has manifested his experiences in the novelAmerican Dervishregarding the hegemonic culture influencing a particular family.The research is aimed at seeing the impact of American hegemonic culture on the lives of the characters of the selected literary text by applying Gramsci’s theory of “ideology and hegemony” (2000; 2011). This theory refers to the standard rule kept up through the ideological and social means that is willingly accepted and idealized by the people who are at the lower position, like the colonized. The study finds that the major factor that has compelled the characters to go against their religion is the dominant culture of America which has a complete control on their lives and has abolished their fundamentalist beliefs. They have started admiring Americans as a standard for them. Moreover, they have started accepting the portrayal of the negative behavior of individuals is the true representation of their religion. They are reluctant in practicing Islam andhave developed their identity as Americans by getting attached to the Jews and Christians and following their values as their own. This transformation is followed by the supremacy established by the powerful class through the consensual submission of the people who are dominated.