Postcolonial Counter Discourse in Ahdaf Soueif‟s The Map of Love
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Department of English
Abstract
This research work reveals the Ahdaf Soueif‟s efforts to erase the binary and
the stereotypical perspective of the West, white, English and Christian authorities
towards the Islam and other Oriental religions and traditions in „The Map of Love.‟
The term Oriental is related to the Eastern people and traditions. However,
Westerners think that they are Occidental. It means modern, developed, and more
civilized than Oriental. Thus the West creates the binary and stereotype between
Oriental and Occidental. Orientals are taken negatively and Occidental is taken
positively. The West discriminates over the East by the construction of differences
between the Orientals and Occidental. The West and English create the discourse to
justify; they are as superior, rich and more civilized to the Easterners. The
Westerners define themselves more civilized to the Orientals. On the basis of such
contradictory discourse they dominate over Orientals through colonization. Soueif, in
„The Map of Love‟ emphasizes on the peace, humanitarian values, social justice
freedom and mutual understanding among the people who are from different races,
religions and the good cultures. The English widow, Anna transforms herself into the
Islam tradition and likewise the Islam Sharif Basha shows his love and respect
towards the English people like Anna. They celebrate each other‟s rituals. Sharif
urges Anna to celebrate the Christmas and she also prefers to involve in Islam
cultural rituals without hesitation. She follows the Islam ritual in her marriage with
Sharif. They celebrate the English New Years Day in the family.