A Postcolonial Study of In Other Rooms, Other Wonders and The Wandering Falcon

Abstract

The present study is a postcolonial investigation of selected short stories by Daniyal Mueenudin’s (2009) In Other Rooms, Other Wonders and Jamal Ahmed’s (2011) The Wandering Falcon. The selected short stories under study from Mueenudin’s collection are In other rooms, other wonders, Nawabdin Electrician, Saleema, and Provide, provide. While the selected short stories from Ahmed’s collection are The Sin of the Mother, The Mullah, The Betrothal of Shah Zarina, and A Point of Honour. The present study examines the nature and ways of male and female representations in selected stories and contextualizes it to the broader field of postcolonial criticism. Postcolonial literary criticism provides significant frames to analyze nature of representation in both colonial and postcolonial contexts. It attempts to reveal the image these representations produce and how far these constructions reinforce stereotypical notions. Postcolonial writings by native writers are considered self-representations and these representations formulate identities of formerly colonized people in their sociocultural context. These sociocultural constructed identities subvert or reinforce stereotypical notions. For the purpose to reveal the nature of male and female representation in Postcolonial context the selected short stories were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) model of thematic analysis. The investigation led to conclude that stereotypical notions regarding males and females are reinforced in the selected short stories. The portrayal of female characters suggests that females appear as victim of societal norms, and male power and authority. While male characters are represented in terms of masculinity and positional superiority. The selected texts share thematic similarities and these representations, do not construct a positive image and portray pre-formed identities of female and male in Pakistani society.