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EXPLORING SUPPRESSION AND CONFLICT IN THE DISCOURSES OF MOHSIN HAMID’S MOTH SMOKE
Corresponding Author(s) : Muhammad Ramzan
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 9 No. 3 (2021): May
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: This paper explores suppression and conflicts projected through the linguistic choices used by the characters in Moth Smoke. The chief argument of the study is to analyze as to how the less powerful are suppressed through language and how far such discourses give rise to conflicts and cause an imbalance in society.
Methodology: The study uses Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a methodological and theoretical framework. The role of CDA is to expose the evils constructed in a piece of literature. It provides the essential tools for analyzing social evils and injustices. As the novel is replete with social inequalities and injustices, CDA is proper for the critical investigation of the evils understudy.
Principal Findings: Most of the time, the powerful strive to control the institutions while the powerless have no access to basic needs. The study explored the themes of suppression of the powerless strata of society. It also explored the theme of conflict due to the unequal distribution of wealth and privileges in society. Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke (2000) depicts the Pakistani society constructing the distinction between the two classes described in the novel.
Application of the Study: This research will help teachers and students who wish to analyze literary pieces objectively. This research is helpful to bring to light the suppression of the powerless by the powerful, power exercise, and conflict between the two social groups through the use of language.
Novelty/Originality of the Study: Hamid’s Moth Smoke has been analyzed from many perspectives, but the current study explores suppression, conflict, and power abuse from the standpoint of CDA. The study is not descriptive but critical as well as explanatory, which makes it original and unique.
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- Awan, A., Andleeb, S., & Yasin, F. (2016). Psychoanalysis and Transformation of Heroes in Mohsin Hamid's Novels "Moth Smoke" and "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." Journal of Education and Practice, 7(1), 10-17.
- Azad, S. (2016). Marxism in Moth Smoke: A macro analysis of Pakistani Society, PUTAJ – Humanities and Social Sciences, 23(2).
- Butt, W. Y., (2008). Conflict, Corruption and the Hollowness of a Nation in Hamid’s Moth Smoke: International Journal of English Language. Literature in Humanities, 6(6).
- Elsharkawy, A. (2017). What is Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)? Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/.../311713796_What_is_Critical_Discourse_Analysis_CDA
- EXCERPT: A people divided (2008, October, 11). Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com
- Faiclough, N. (1992). Discourse and social change. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
- Fairclough, N. (1989). Language and Power. London: Longman. "The New York Times – Holiday Books 2000". The New York Times. Retrieved on May 7, 2021.
- Fairclough, N. (1995). Critical discourse analysis: the critical study of Language: Language in Social Life Series. Retrieved April 15, 2021, from books.org
- Fairclough, N. (2001). Language and Power. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/
- Fairclough, N. (2009). A dialectical-relational approach to critical discourse analysis in social research. In Wodak, R. & Meyer, M. (Eds.), Methods of critical discourse analysis (2nd ed.). London: SAGE.
- Fairclough, N. (2013). Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Policy Studies, 7(2), 177-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2013.798239 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2013.798239
- Fairclough, N. and Wodak, R. (1997). Critical discourse analysis, in van Dijk, T. (ed.) Discourse as Social Interaction. London: Sage.
- Foucault, M. (1976). The history of sexuality (Vol. I: An introduction). Hurley, R. (Trans.). London: Allen Lane, Penguin Books Ltd.
- Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings 1972-1977. Gordon, C., Marshall, L., Mepham, J. & Soper, K. (Trans.), Gordon, C. (Ed.). Sussex: The Harvester Press Limited.
- Foucault, M. (1984). The care of the self (Vol. III, The history of sexuality). Hurley, R. (Trans.). London: Allen Lane, The Penguin Press.
- Hamid, M. (2000). Moth Smoke. Granta Books London.
- Khan, M. (2016). “Socioeconomic Problems of Pakistan†– Jahangir’ World Times. Retrieved from http://jworldtimes.com/jwt2015/Pakistan-affairs/socioeconomic-problems-of-pakistan/
- Lahiri, J. (2000). Money Talks in Pakistan- New York Times. Retrieved from hhtp://www.nytimes.com /2000/03/12/books/money-talks-in-pakistan.html
- Malik, T. I. (2017). Moth smoke: … Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL), 5(1), 114.
- Mills, S. (2008). Language and sexism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Mirzaee, S. & Hamidi, H. (2012). Critical Discourse Analysis and Fairclough’s Model. ELT Voices-India, 2(5), 182-191.
- Ramzan, M. and Khan, A. K. (2020). A Critical Discourse Analysis of Powerlessness in Mohsin Hamid's Novel "Moth Smoke." Sir Syed Journal of Education & Social Research, 3(4), 2020. https://doi.org/10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss4-2020(106-112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss4-2020(106-112)
- Rangani, D. (2016). Socio-Psycho and Socio-Economic Issues in the contemporary Pakistani fiction by Mohsin Hamid and Kamila Shamsie.
- Rehman, N. (2016). Moth Smoke as a critique of Pakistan Society. Retrieved from: www.theodysseyonline.c om/moth-smoke-critique-pakistani-society
- Reiman, J., (1987). Exploitation, Force, and the Moral Assessment of Capitalism: Thoughts on Roemer and Cohen. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 16, 3-4.
- Van Dijk, T. A. (1993). Principles of Critical Discourse analysis. Discourse & Society, 4(2), 249-283. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0957926593004002006
- Van Dijk, T.A. (2008). Discourse and Power. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-07299-3
- Yaqoob, M. (2010). An Ecocritical Reading of Hamid's Moth Smoke. International Research Journal of Arts & Humanities (IRJAH), 38. Available at: www.academia.edu/.../An_Ecocritical_Study_of_Mohsin_Hamid s_Moth_Smoke
References
Awan, A., Andleeb, S., & Yasin, F. (2016). Psychoanalysis and Transformation of Heroes in Mohsin Hamid's Novels "Moth Smoke" and "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." Journal of Education and Practice, 7(1), 10-17.
Azad, S. (2016). Marxism in Moth Smoke: A macro analysis of Pakistani Society, PUTAJ – Humanities and Social Sciences, 23(2).
Butt, W. Y., (2008). Conflict, Corruption and the Hollowness of a Nation in Hamid’s Moth Smoke: International Journal of English Language. Literature in Humanities, 6(6).
Elsharkawy, A. (2017). What is Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA)? Retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/.../311713796_What_is_Critical_Discourse_Analysis_CDA
EXCERPT: A people divided (2008, October, 11). Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com
Faiclough, N. (1992). Discourse and social change. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Fairclough, N. (1989). Language and Power. London: Longman. "The New York Times – Holiday Books 2000". The New York Times. Retrieved on May 7, 2021.
Fairclough, N. (1995). Critical discourse analysis: the critical study of Language: Language in Social Life Series. Retrieved April 15, 2021, from books.org
Fairclough, N. (2001). Language and Power. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/
Fairclough, N. (2009). A dialectical-relational approach to critical discourse analysis in social research. In Wodak, R. & Meyer, M. (Eds.), Methods of critical discourse analysis (2nd ed.). London: SAGE.
Fairclough, N. (2013). Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Policy Studies, 7(2), 177-197. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2013.798239 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2013.798239
Fairclough, N. and Wodak, R. (1997). Critical discourse analysis, in van Dijk, T. (ed.) Discourse as Social Interaction. London: Sage.
Foucault, M. (1976). The history of sexuality (Vol. I: An introduction). Hurley, R. (Trans.). London: Allen Lane, Penguin Books Ltd.
Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings 1972-1977. Gordon, C., Marshall, L., Mepham, J. & Soper, K. (Trans.), Gordon, C. (Ed.). Sussex: The Harvester Press Limited.
Foucault, M. (1984). The care of the self (Vol. III, The history of sexuality). Hurley, R. (Trans.). London: Allen Lane, The Penguin Press.
Hamid, M. (2000). Moth Smoke. Granta Books London.
Khan, M. (2016). “Socioeconomic Problems of Pakistan†– Jahangir’ World Times. Retrieved from http://jworldtimes.com/jwt2015/Pakistan-affairs/socioeconomic-problems-of-pakistan/
Lahiri, J. (2000). Money Talks in Pakistan- New York Times. Retrieved from hhtp://www.nytimes.com /2000/03/12/books/money-talks-in-pakistan.html
Malik, T. I. (2017). Moth smoke: … Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL), 5(1), 114.
Mills, S. (2008). Language and sexism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mirzaee, S. & Hamidi, H. (2012). Critical Discourse Analysis and Fairclough’s Model. ELT Voices-India, 2(5), 182-191.
Ramzan, M. and Khan, A. K. (2020). A Critical Discourse Analysis of Powerlessness in Mohsin Hamid's Novel "Moth Smoke." Sir Syed Journal of Education & Social Research, 3(4), 2020. https://doi.org/10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss4-2020(106-112 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36902/sjesr-vol3-iss4-2020(106-112)
Rangani, D. (2016). Socio-Psycho and Socio-Economic Issues in the contemporary Pakistani fiction by Mohsin Hamid and Kamila Shamsie.
Rehman, N. (2016). Moth Smoke as a critique of Pakistan Society. Retrieved from: www.theodysseyonline.c om/moth-smoke-critique-pakistani-society
Reiman, J., (1987). Exploitation, Force, and the Moral Assessment of Capitalism: Thoughts on Roemer and Cohen. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 16, 3-4.
Van Dijk, T. A. (1993). Principles of Critical Discourse analysis. Discourse & Society, 4(2), 249-283. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0957926593004002006
Van Dijk, T.A. (2008). Discourse and Power. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-07299-3
Yaqoob, M. (2010). An Ecocritical Reading of Hamid's Moth Smoke. International Research Journal of Arts & Humanities (IRJAH), 38. Available at: www.academia.edu/.../An_Ecocritical_Study_of_Mohsin_Hamid s_Moth_Smoke