Rejection, retention & reclamation: representations of muslim identity in muslim narratives

• Main Author: Fazila Banu D/O Mohamed Rabiullah
• Other Authors: Dr. Yong Wern Mei
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/71030
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This final year graduation essay seeks to respond to the Muslim stereotypes perpetuated by Postcolonial reading of Muslim narratives through the presentation and analysis of Muslim characters in Season of Migration to the North (1969) by Tayeb Salih, The Kite Runner (2003) by Khaled Hosseini and Minaret (2005) by Leila Aboulela, paying particular attention to the process of being Muslim individuals. The three texts best exemplify the fluidity and multiplicity in their portrayal thus symbolically reflecting the evolution in the representation of Muslim identity in the narratives. The characters illustrate the subjective nature of how Muslim individuals prioritize a Muslim identity that dictates their response to their environment and circumstances. This essay will structure in the respective sections of analysis; ‘Rejection’, ‘Retention’ and ‘Reclamation’. All three sections will demonstrate the ways their Muslim identity is rejected, retained or reclaimed.