Considering the title of Rushdie’s short story cycle East, West one question quickly evolves in the recipient’s mind: Does the comma in the title stand for a separator keeping apart two cultural blocks, namely an Eastern and a Western world, or can it also be considered as a linking bridge?
However, when reading Rushdie’s colourful stories it becomes clear that he even goes far beyond this bridge notion. The author doesn’t only try to link or reconcile the two parts but he as a migrant between the two worlds ironically plays with the traditional images of Orient and Occident: By applying a huge variety of genre, styles, structures and techniques he finally deconstructs the traditional notions of the two entities. In doing so he undermines the reader’s conventional assumptions about the East and West and makes clear that in recent times reality cannot be pressed into or described by such simple schemes any longer.
When Rushdie writes that “literature is, of all the arts, the one best suited to challenging absolutes of all kinds”, this is exactly what he does in “East, West”. Nothing is “sacred” any longer, and thus most of the stories can be considered as attempts to ironically challenge and deconstruct sanctities and weak sides of Eastern and Western culture. By this critique he makes clear that within the global village these two parts of the world are closely interrelated and cannot be considered as opposing entities. Thus, Rushdie goes beyond the common debates about whether there is a divide of the world into East and West or not.
However, as the short stories in East, West fulfil all more or less this deconstructive design on the one side and represent on the other side the richness and diversity of human life in the different parts of the world they naturally do not offer easy interpretations. Nevertheless, this paper tries to examine how Rushdie criticizes and deconstructs the traditional notions and absolutes of the East and West and how he takes apart these artificial entities. The thesis that Salman Rushdie deconstructs the typical images and questions the inviolable both of the Orient and Occident and thus describes the world as a complex, interrelated system will be the paper’s central question. In this respect one “Eastern” story of his short story cycle East, West – “The Prophet’s Hair” – and one “Western story” – “At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers”— will be considered. These analyses will then provide the basis for the conclusion.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Rushdie's Deconstruction of the "East" and Questioning of the Inviolable: His Short Story "The Prophet's Hair"
- 3. Rushdie's Deconstruction of the "West" and the Questioning of the Inviolable: His Short Story "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers"
- 4. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to analyze how Salman Rushdie deconstructs traditional images of the Orient and Occident in his short story cycle, East, West, and how he challenges established cultural norms. The paper focuses on two stories, "The Prophet's Hair" and "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," to explore this deconstruction.
- Deconstruction of Orientalist and Occidentalist stereotypes
- Critique of religious absolutism and fanaticism
- Exploration of cultural hybridity and migration
- Irony and playful subversion of traditional narratives
- Interconnectedness of East and West in a globalized world
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central argument: Salman Rushdie's East, West deconstructs conventional notions of East and West, challenging simplistic binaries and revealing the complex interrelationships between these seemingly disparate cultures. The comma in the title is interpreted not as a separator but as a bridge, although Rushdie goes beyond mere reconciliation, ironically playing with established images to expose their limitations in a globalized world. The chapter highlights Rushdie's literary approach, employing diverse genres and styles to undermine conventional assumptions. The author's personal experience as a migrant between East and West informs his perspective, and the chapter introduces the two stories that will be analyzed in detail: "The Prophet's Hair" and "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers."
2. Rushdie's Deconstruction of the “East” and the Questioning of the Inviolable: His Short Story "The Prophet's Hair": This chapter analyzes "The Prophet's Hair," focusing on Rushdie's deconstruction of blind veneration within Eastern religious traditions. The story revolves around Hashim, a moneylender who acquires a relic of the Prophet Muhammad's hair, leading to a drastic change in his behavior – from secular to fanatical – without any accompanying moral improvement. The acquisition of the relic triggers a tragic chain of events that ultimately destroys his family. Rushdie's portrayal subverts the miraculous narratives common in religious tales; the relic, instead of bestowing blessings, brings ruin. This critique is contextualized within Rushdie's own experience of religious fanaticism and the fatwa issued against him after the publication of The Satanic Verses, suggesting a personal connection to the themes explored in the story.
Keywords
Salman Rushdie, East, West, Orientalism, Occidentalism, postcolonial literature, religious fanaticism, cultural hybridity, deconstruction, migration, irony, "The Prophet's Hair," "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," absolutism.
Frequently Asked Questions: Salman Rushdie's *East, West* - A Deconstruction of Orient and Occident
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes how Salman Rushdie deconstructs traditional images of the East and West in his short story collection, East, West, and challenges established cultural norms. It focuses specifically on two stories: "The Prophet's Hair" and "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," to explore this deconstruction.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the deconstruction of Orientalist and Occidentalist stereotypes, a critique of religious absolutism and fanaticism, exploration of cultural hybridity and migration, the use of irony and playful subversion of traditional narratives, and the interconnectedness of East and West in a globalized world.
Which stories are analyzed in detail, and what are their central arguments?
"The Prophet's Hair" analyzes the deconstruction of blind veneration within Eastern religious traditions, showing how a religious relic, instead of bestowing blessings, brings ruin. "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers" (though not detailed in the provided summary) is implied to similarly deconstruct Western cultural norms and assumptions.
How does Rushdie's personal experience inform his work?
Rushdie's personal experience as a migrant between East and West, and the fatwa issued against him after The Satanic Verses, significantly informs his perspective and the themes explored in the stories. His own experiences with religious fanaticism are directly reflected in "The Prophet's Hair".
What is the overall argument of the introductory chapter?
The introduction argues that Rushdie's East, West deconstructs conventional notions of East and West, challenging simplistic binaries and highlighting the complex interrelationships between these cultures. The comma in the title is interpreted as a bridge, representing a complex interplay rather than a simple separation.
What is the significance of the comma in the title *East, West*?
The comma in the title is interpreted not as a separator but as a bridge, signifying the interconnectedness and complex relationship between East and West, although Rushdie's work goes beyond mere reconciliation.
What literary approaches does Rushdie employ?
Rushdie employs diverse genres and styles to undermine conventional assumptions about the East and West, challenging simplistic binary oppositions.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include Salman Rushdie, East, West, Orientalism, Occidentalism, postcolonial literature, religious fanaticism, cultural hybridity, deconstruction, migration, irony, "The Prophet's Hair," "At the Auction of the Ruby Slippers," and absolutism.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The objective is to analyze how Salman Rushdie deconstructs conventional notions of East and West in his short stories and challenges established cultural norms, revealing the complexities of cultural interaction in a globalized world.
- Quote paper
- Jörg Vogelmann (Author), 2005, Salman Rushdie's Short Story Cycle East, West: A Deconstruction of the Traditional Images of Orient and Occident and a Questioning of the Inviolable, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/61301
