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The Muslims’ Identity in American Society Through Ayad Akhtar’s Play «The Who and the What»

Received: 4 December 2017     Accepted: 2 January 2018     Published: 24 February 2018
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Abstract

The present research aims to point out the clash between the religious and social aspects of Muslim’s life in Ayad Akhtar’s debatable play «The Who and the What», in which the author attempts to stir matter of Muslim Immigrants’ identity, through an impetuous young Muslim woman, Zarina, who tries to break out all the barrier of her traditional society and heritages which bound her to realize what she wants to do; as a result, she lives in a conflict with her family. However, she was controlled by her rigid father, Afzel, who embodies the old generation. Therefore, Ayad Akhtar intends to depict the tension between the conservative traditional life and modern contemporary American one, exploring the interfaith conflicts. And in order to analyze the novel elements, the study adopts the cultural approach.

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 3, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13
Page(s) 14-19
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ayad Akhtar, American Society, Clash, Muslims, Religious Identity, Play

References
[1] Aditi, Sriram. Interview. Ayad Akhtar. Guernica: A Magazine of Art and Politics. Notes for the Stage. June 2, 2014.
[2] Afridi, S, (2001), "Muslims in America: Identity, diversity, and the challenges of Understanding. Carnegie Corporation, New York.
[3] Amaney, Jamal, (2005),"Mosques, Collective Identity, and Gender Differences among Arab American Muslims". Journal of Middle East Women's Studies. Vol. 1, No. 1.53-78: Duke University Press.
[4] Armstrong, K, (1995) Muhammad, London: Victor Gollancz.
[5] Akhtar, AYAD, (2014), The Who & the What: A Play, Back Bay Books, U.S.A.
[6] Bennett, C. (1992), "Victorian images of Islam". London: Grey Seal.
[7] Benson & P. Kayal (Eds.), A community of many worlds: Arab-Americans in New York. New York: Syracuse University Press.
[8] Berner, Heike. Home Is Where the Heart Is? Identity and Belonging in Asian American Literature. Doktor der Philosophie. Fakultät für Philologie. Ruhr-Universität Bochum. 2003.
[9] Bullock, Katherine." ( 2005). Muslim Women Activists in North America; Speaking for Ourselves", University of Texas Press Austin.
[10] Draper, John, William, (1875), "A History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, London". vol.1. 329-330.
[11] Fisher, George, (1996),"The Beginning of Christianity". New York. 25.
[12] Gusdorf, Georges. “Conditions and Limits of Autobiography.” Autobiography: Essays Theoretical and Critical. Trans. James Olney. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1980. 30.
[13] Haddad, Y,(2002), Inventing and re-inventing the Arab American identity.
[14] Haddad, Y., & Lummis, A,(1987), "Islamic Values in the United States". Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[15] Harik, R. & Marston, E, (1996), Women in the Middle East: Tradition and change. New York: Franklin Watts.
[16] James A. Michener, (1955), "Islam: The Misunderstood Religion' in Reader's Digest". American Edition.
[17] Jawad, Haifaa &Tansin Benn. (2003). "Book Muslim Women in the United Kingdom and Beyond" Leiden; Boston: Brill.
[18] Jawad. H. (1998) The Rights of women in Islam: An authentic approach, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
[19] Karen, B, (2002). "Islam and toleration: Studying Othoman Imperial Model". International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society.
[20] Kevin, McCarthy & Maxine, Jones, (1993), "African Americans in Florida": An Illustrated History. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press.
[21] Michael, A, Gomez. (1994), "Muslims in Early America". Journal of Southern History.
[22] Shanzad, A. and Khalid, (2008), "US mass media and Muslim world: Portrayal of Muslim by “News Week” and “Time” 1991-2001. European Journal of Scientific Research.
[23] Suleiman, Michael, ed, (1999), "Arabs in America: Building a new Future" Temple: Temple University Press. Understanding". New York: Carnegie Press.
[24] Trussell, Robert. “Kansas City Repertory Theatre Rep Stages Ayad Akhtar Work about the American Experience.” The Kansas City Star. The Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2014.
[25] Yvonne, Yazbeck Haddad Jane I. Smith Kathleen M. Moore, (2006), Muslim women in America the challenging of Islamic society today. New York: Oxford University Press.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Houaria Chaal. (2018). The Muslims’ Identity in American Society Through Ayad Akhtar’s Play «The Who and the What». English Language, Literature & Culture, 3(1), 14-19. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13

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    ACS Style

    Houaria Chaal. The Muslims’ Identity in American Society Through Ayad Akhtar’s Play «The Who and the What». Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2018, 3(1), 14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13

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    AMA Style

    Houaria Chaal. The Muslims’ Identity in American Society Through Ayad Akhtar’s Play «The Who and the What». Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2018;3(1):14-19. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13,
      author = {Houaria Chaal},
      title = {The Muslims’ Identity in American Society Through Ayad Akhtar’s Play «The Who and the What»},
      journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
      volume = {3},
      number = {1},
      pages = {14-19},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20180301.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20180301.13},
      abstract = {The present research aims to point out the clash between the religious and social aspects of Muslim’s life in Ayad Akhtar’s debatable play «The Who and the What», in which the author attempts to stir matter of Muslim Immigrants’ identity, through an impetuous young Muslim woman, Zarina, who tries to break out all the barrier of her traditional society and heritages which bound her to realize what she wants to do; as a result, she lives in a conflict with her family. However, she was controlled by her rigid father, Afzel, who embodies the old generation. Therefore, Ayad Akhtar intends to depict the tension between the conservative traditional life and modern contemporary American one, exploring the interfaith conflicts. And in order to analyze the novel elements, the study adopts the cultural approach.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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    AB  - The present research aims to point out the clash between the religious and social aspects of Muslim’s life in Ayad Akhtar’s debatable play «The Who and the What», in which the author attempts to stir matter of Muslim Immigrants’ identity, through an impetuous young Muslim woman, Zarina, who tries to break out all the barrier of her traditional society and heritages which bound her to realize what she wants to do; as a result, she lives in a conflict with her family. However, she was controlled by her rigid father, Afzel, who embodies the old generation. Therefore, Ayad Akhtar intends to depict the tension between the conservative traditional life and modern contemporary American one, exploring the interfaith conflicts. And in order to analyze the novel elements, the study adopts the cultural approach.
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Author Information
  • Department of English, Hassiba Ben Bouali University, Chlef, Algeria

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