The Representation of Terrorism in the Select Novels A Comparative Study

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to study terrorism restrictively and inclusively carried out in the name of Islam with a special reference to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 through examining and exploring its literary representations in the select novels, written by novelists of different backgrounds and perspectives. The novels have been carefully selected to represent the different voices, positions and gender. Terrorism involves a perpetrator, an immediate victim, and audience. The terrorist acts of 9/11 were against America, and Updike s Terrorist (2006) is selected for that consideration. Ed Husain s The Islamist (2007) presents the ex-extremist Muslim s narration and experience. It explains the motives and ideology of extremist Muslims, addresses the question of what make Islamic fundamentalism appealing. Mohsin Hamid s The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) reflects the nationalist sympathizer with the cause of the perpetrators of 9/11 terrorist attacks. It represents the motives of terrorism not from the religious perspective but from the nationalist background. Shaila Abdullah s Saffron Dreams (2009) reflects the Muslim victim s point of view of both terrorism and the American response to the event. In addition, woman emancipation and the Islamic Patriarch have been elaborated as a sign supporting the discourse that associates Islam with terrorism. Therefore, it is felt important to consider the Muslim woman s voice and representation. newlineThe study is an analytical and comparative in nature. And since terrorism has been explained in political, social, anthropological, cultural and religious studies, the interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of the texts has been employed. In order to achieve the aims of the study, the principles of New Historicism have been considered in the analysis. Methods of compare and contrast are also used so that a discursive description of terrorism is objectively attempted. The overall design of this thesis, method of referencing and citations, follows the MLA Handbook for Writer