Conflicts between Past and Present Identity in Yahya Haqqi’s The Lamp of Umm Hashim: The Post Colonized in a Dark Passage to the Future
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/qbne5a43Keywords:
Post colonialism, Orientalism, Ismail, superstitions, Encounter between East and WestAbstract
This research aims to discuss mainly the changes of the main character (Ismail) in The Lamp of Umm Hashim, a novel published in 1944 by Yahya Haqqi, an Egyptian writer. Ismail, who finds himself at the crossroads of civilizations, undergoes a lot of changes due to postcolonialism and being exposed to more than one culture. The discussion will involve the relationship between education, science and faith, and societal belief in superstitions. This novel was one of the first fictional works in Arabic to deal with psychological difficulties that were faced by students returning home after being sent to Europe to complete their studies. The Lamp of Umm Hashim exposes the cultural shock that can be viewed as a post-colonial effect after being educated in Europe. The difference between East and West is explained by Dr. Edward Said in his book Orientalism, showing the clash between the cultures. This research shows the crises that face the main character while being in the center, concentrating on how Ismail deals with the changes in his self-image while he struggles with trying to belong to his Egyptian heritage.
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References
1. “Key Terms in Post-Colonial Theory.” Postcol Defs, www.dbu.edu/mitchell/postcold.htm. Accessed 21 Dec. 2019.
2. Boullata, Issa J. "Encounter between East and West: A Them in Contemporary Arabic Novels." Middle East Journal 30.1 (1976): 49-62. Print.
3. Hamadi, Lutfi. "Edward Said: The Postcolonial Theory and the Literature of Decolonization." European Scientific Journal2.1 (2014): 40-46. Print.
4. Haqqi, Yahya. The Lamp of Umm Hashim: And Other Stories. Translated by Denys Johnson-Davies, Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press, 2004. Print.
5. Said, Edward W. Orientalism. New York: Pantheon Books, 1978. Print.
6. Singh, Amardeep. "An Introduction to Edward Said, Orientalism, and Postcolonial Literary Studies." Lehigh, 24 Sep. 2004, www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2004/09/introduction-to-edward-said.html. Accessed 18 Jan. 2019.
7. Surmava, Nino. "The Theme of Encounter between East and West in the 20th Century Arabic literature (1935-1966). "www.spekali.tsu.ge/pdf/11_114_en.pdf.Accessed 5 Jan. 2019.
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