CAN THE SUBALTERN SPEAK? AN ANALYSIS OF HOME FIRE (2017) BY KAMILA SHAMSI

Authors

  • Salma Rind Institute of English Language and Literature, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan
  • Ume- Kulsoom Institute of English Language and Literature, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan
  • Khaleeque Zaman Mahesar Department of Political Science, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52567/pjsr.v4i2.530

Abstract

The current study “Can the subaltern speak? An Analysis of Home Fire (2017) by Kamila Shamsi” is based on the textual analysis and close reading of the novel. The novel is evaluated from the perspective of subaltern by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. Spivak gave the concept of subaltern in her essay “Can the Subaltern speak”? (1988) to discuss the marginalized and subordinated group of people. Spivak says subalterns are neglected at different levels such as social, cultural, political, economic, psychological and religious. Subalterns are entitled with different labels like inferior, downtrodden and lower rank people. Thus, due to fallen position subalterns remain forgotten subjects and have no history and no identity in their surroundings. Similar to Spivak`s concept, Shamsi’s novel Home Fire (2017) portrays the position of Muslim British as subaltern. A Muslim family named Pasha Family has been living in Britain for many years and still lives in Britain. Yet their identity is challenged due to the involvement of Adil Pasha (Father) with Taliban and having Muslim identity. Isma, elder daughter of Adil Pasha is interrogated consecutively for two hours at airport of America. The main reason for her interrogation is her Muslim identity and hijab which she wears every time. After that her brother Pervaiz Pasha is murdered in Turkey and his dead body is sent to Pakistan. Because British government is not ready to bury Pervaiz Pasha in her soil as Pervaiz showed connection with terrorists. Therefore, his dead body is not allowed to be buried in Britain. Though all the children of the Pasha Family were born and raised in Britain. This shows subalterns do not have any place in the society. This brutal and violent treatment of one dominant group effects contrary on subalterns. Subalterns accept their fallen status and bow down in front of higher authorities.

Keywords: Subalterns, downtrodden, hijab, Muslim identity, terrorists.

Author Biographies

  • Salma Rind, Institute of English Language and Literature, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan

    Ph.D. Scholar

  • Ume- Kulsoom, Institute of English Language and Literature, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan

    Assistant Professor

  • Khaleeque Zaman Mahesar, Department of Political Science, University of Sindh, Jamshoro Pakistan

    Lecturer

Additional Files

Published

2022-06-30

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2022): Pakistan Journal of Social Research PJSR

Section

Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2022 Salma Rind, Ume- Kulsoom, Khaleeque Zaman Mahesar

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite

[1]
“CAN THE SUBALTERN SPEAK? AN ANALYSIS OF HOME FIRE (2017) BY KAMILA SHAMSI”, Pak. J, Soc. Sci., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 793–798, Jun. 2022, doi: 10.52567/pjsr.v4i2.530.