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Title ISLAM/MUSLIMS IN AMERICAN LITERARY CONSCIOUSNESS: A CRITIQUE OF PEARL ABRAHAM’S AMERICAN TALIBAN AND DON DELILLO’S FALLING MAN

Author(s) ZAHRA NAEEM BUTT

Abstract Islamophobia has become a focal concept of debate in past few decades. The rise in Islamophobia has raised a question on the identity of the Muslims especially after the incident of 9/11. The purpose of present study is to explore divided American literary consciousness on the issue of Islamophobia by critically analyzing Don Delillo’s Falling Man and Pearl Abraham’s American Taliban. By using theoretical perspectives of Edward Said and Sara Mills, the researcher investigates the existence of the divided consciousness that exists because of diversity in literary writings. The main argument of the study is based on Said’s claims that falsehood about Muslims and Islam is constantly propagated in the media in the name of objectivity, freedom, democracy liberalism and progress. In order to strengthen my theoretical framework, I have invoked the argument of Sara Mills to analyze how media and politicians are powerful enough to shape discourse which can be both an effect of power and an instrument. The purpose of the present study is to reveal representation of Muslim characters in the selected novels and to explore those discourses that influence the image of Islam and Muslims in the minds of Americans. The analysis of the selected texts reveal that Delillo’s Falling Man try to reinforce the negative stigma associated with Muslims and Islam, while Abraham’s American Taliban seems to be giving a voice to the voiceless by providing readers with a different version of reality. Abraham also seems to be reacting to the dominant truth by deconstructing the idea that Americans are innocent while Muslims are the only entity to blame. The researcher has reached to the conclusion that both types of narratives exist in post 9/11 literary domain and these narratives shape distinct versions regarding the image of Islam and Muslims.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2022-01-28

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