Gender Relations in The Wandering Falcon by Jamil Ahmed - Literature review Example

Author’s name Insert Surname Instructors’ Name Course Date Litеrаturе Review Introduction The following easy intends to first review, compare and contrast the gender relations in ‘the wandering falcon’ book written by Jamil Ahmed and the ‘The Woman in the Dunes’ written by Kobo Abe. Further, the second part of the essay analyses the Issue of "public and private shame" as written in Randolph Stow’s, Visitants. The relationship and the roles of the two genders in the society are varying form one society to another. Many writers have taken initiatives of writing the position of a girl or a boy in specific society or in the general population. In most cases, the roles and responsibilities played by these two genders at young ages is depicted even at later stages in life. The ‘the wandering falcon’ and ‘The Woman in the Dunes’ are some of the literary works which have brought forward this aspect for their readers. Various writers have also covered public and private theme for years. Among these writers is in the ‘Visitants’ by Randolph Stow’s which is going to be discussed at in this essay. An overview of the wandering falcon by Jamil Ahmed The wandering falcon was set in the post-world war II era in Pakistan, along Afghani and Iranian border. The book is about Tor Baz, who is a nomad, and on whom the story follows. Tor Baz seems unwilling to settle as he visits various tribes in this region (Ahmad, 177). He refuses to settle with any of these tribes but instead deciding to stay a lonely life. The reader of this book gets the sense of challenging but beautiful environment in which Tor Baz puts himself. As a reader delves into the book, he feels as if the book was written several centuries ago. The author has tried to bring out an ancient culture, which is generally nomadic, and the way this tribe honored its tradition. The tribe does not seem to change its lifestyle, as it prefers to continue with this ancient life. This makes one to see time as stagnant where the region is as well desolate. However, it is not long before the community is caught by the modernity. The region becomes known internationally and positions itself in the world’s map. As a result, international borders set in and thus Tor Baz’s life is as well impacted by these changes (Ahmad, 124). This is also observed in other nomads in the region. This region has been incredibly described. There is a deliberate attempt by the author to show his attachment with this region. Tor Baz is an organ who has been raised by various people. This means that even in this nomadic community, he is a wanderer. The sense of life is alive to him especially in is closeness and search of God. An overview of Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe ‘Woman in the Dunes’ is a book written in early 1960s and has attracted an international attention. It is based on a civil servant man-a schoolteacher by the name Niki Junpei who is goes out for a vacation and unable to return back (Abe, 21). He is tired of leading the same routine kind of life. In his isolation, he decided to catch insects to get a feeling of life and accompaniment. However, as the day ends, he passes through a village, which is the sand dune where an old man noticed that he is not a government inspector and thus decided to offer him a lodging to spend. It is at this time that Niki Junpei notices a woman who is helping the locals to draw sand to avoid being engulfed (Abe, 145). They fall in love and bear him a son. Niki Junpei is trying to escape this environment but to no avail. Comparing and contrasting the two books Gender roles and responsibilities in these two books have been portrayed massively. In both novels, a woman role has been seen as that of bearing children as well as bringing them up. This is an attempt to show most of the ancient traditions in the world. In the ‘Woman in the Dunes’ the lonely schoolteacher finally gets in love with the woman whom they gives birth to a boy (Abe, 123). The children in this case are seen as a binding factor that’s brings both a wife and husband together. However, despite the above observation, woman is seen to fail in their responsibility. Unlike in the case of the ‘Woman in the Dunes’, in the ‘wandering falcon’ by Jamil Ahmed, the main character, Tor Baz finds himself as an orphan thus lacking motherly care and protection(Abe, 132). He is however given the same by various guardians, which emphasizes the role of women in the society and in a family. It is also evident that men in the society are seen the drivers of change. In the ‘wandering falcon’ by Jamil Ahmed, Tor Baz is trying to find answers too many questions. However, the community seems not to provide this to him. He goes a step further to seek God’s guidance (Ahmad, 143). In the ‘Woman in the Dunes’ by Kobo Abe, the schoolteacher is tired of the common life he is leading (Abe, 133). He is also looking for answers and change to better his life. The desire for change in these men’s life is depicted as the community’s need to embrace the changing world through civilization. Further, in order for the society to show the role of various genders in the communities, injustices are committed in both scenarios. Further, ‘‘a government official approaches a tribe to make certain demands on them in the name of the law. Trapped between the power of the government and the power of a stronger tribe, the elder of the village tells a story. The official has the force of law behind him but he has no story to counter that of the elder, and so his case stands demolished’’ (Ahmad, 135). As is depicted in Kobo Abe’s book ‘Woman in the Dunes’, the woman is made to overwork by the communities (Abe, 122). This is done to avoid the village being engulfed by the sand. The men on the other hand are there to supervise and manage operations in the society. In the ‘wandering falcon’, Jamil Ahmed has clearly combined the respect and affection, which have been imposed in the harshest way. A good example is where a mother and her husband arte killed after eloping together. In addition, a woman is abducted form her village and on coming back she finds her husband with another wife. Instead of being welcomed back and respected, she is insulted by the second wife whom has already a son with her husband (Ahmad, 144). The mother in-law also joins her daughter in-law to abuse the first wife. After this, she accepts to be sold to a brothel which puts her in extend humiliation. The two books show that the society did not respect the female gender. However, the two communities have been shown as resistant to change through imposing of strict codes of ethics which should be followed all members. Men have been depicted as enforcers of these laws, while women are followers. The struggles that Junpei and his wife undergo show how the community should change and positively embraced the new way of lining. The Issue of "public and private shame" as written in Randolph Stow’s, Visitants (1979) Preview of the book Randolph Stow’s, Visitants (1979) Randolph Stow’s Visitants Is a novel that is mostly considered as underrated. The book is set in the Trobriand Islands, which are off the east coast of Papua New Guinea (Stow, 12). The novel was published in the year 1979 and remains one of the most loved fiction novels, not only here in Australia but also in the international platform. This story is told out of the Randolph Stow’s personal experience coupled with the sighting of a disc-shaped craft that had been spotted in 1959 and which contained human like figures. This craft had been seen hovering the Boianai island of Papua new Guinea. As the name suggests, the name visitants refer to visitation inform of invasion of the minds, body, planets and the islands. It also involves the complex network and belief systems including legends and myths. The visitants travel to Kailuana Island at the coast of Papua (Stow, 13). They include the Australian government officials led by Alistair Cawdor and cadet patrol officer, Tim Dalwood, as his assistant. The team also included MacDonnell, the local planter, who had announced to the local people that he owned the island having arrived there in the early 1908. A disturbing local village new comer by the name Metusela happened to be among the visitants with big zombie-like eyes. Others included possible extraterrestrial visitants as a well as elusive visitant who seemed to have taken over Cawdor mentality after he was started to retreat from the human realm into alcoholism named malarial infection (Stow, 132). This can be observed in where he screams he screamed; ‘‘the house is bleeding. There is nobody inside.’’ The story begins with an enquiry of an outbreak of violence in the island through several fragments, which are represented by five voices. This violence is allegedly caused by the desire to succeed the ailing village chief this island. This enquiry, which was held in November 1959, is represented by Dalwood, MacDonnell -the planter, his servant, Saliba- the young girl, Osana –the Government Interpreter and Benoni, who is the local chief’s heir (Stow, 123). However, even though this inquiry is caused by the destructive violence in the village, the testimony is focused on the young Alistair Cawdor who is a young patrol officer that is ‘sprawled there in his underpants like a zoo animal that had given up’. His mental instability and failing health is also a matter of concern. The role in making the story move is critical as is seen where he says ‘When asked why they should connect the stones with the space-ship, all the men implicated said that they had heard of the connection through BENONI, who had heard it from me’ (Stow,138). Addressing the Issue of "Public and Private Shame" As already observed, the basis for this story is on the personal experience of the author as well as the complex system in the fictional realm of the Kailuana Island. However, Randolph Stow is trying to bring out the theme of shame at both public and private levels. He is emphasizing the shame of government officials and the response through which the governments react to ‘rumors.’ Based on the above observation one of the instance where shame is brought out is the issue of disc-like craft that had been spotted in late 1950s which had four humanlike features (Stow, 111). Although this may be viewed as a mockery and unrealistic by then, it was later revealed that these were planets, which were observed, but he ignorance of the public could not fathom. It is unbelievable that the government could not see any sense in Reverend William Booth Gill alleged sighting of flying objects hovering over the Boianai Island (Stow, 213). This information had been widely reported by the media in Australia followed by a couple of interviews to grill Gill by the Australian air force. It after all these it was agreed that at least some lights had been observed indicating planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mars. Further, public shame has been depicted where government officials have caused destruction in the village all in the name of succession (Stow, 219). It is a despicable behavior when these locals are fighting over succeeding someone who is ailing. He brings this to show the rotten behavior of leaders in the society and the urge for power in total disregard of humanity and health of their counterparts. Further, both types of shame have been illustrated through the malaria infection to a public officer. Although Cawdor is also a human being, the author is trying to show that the government needs to intervene and eradicate such social problems in the society. However, it should be noted that the author is explaining his own experience where he had suffered from malaria soon after quitting government employment. In addition, the author brings out a personal shame again through a government official -MacDonnell. The house of this officer is dilapidated as described ‘Time has not smoothed or mellowed the fabric of the house. Grey splinters fur the walls of the central room, where maps and ships’ pennants fade to a neutral dun. A smell of mildew circulates, from chests and cupboards where clothes, bedding, papers, moulder in the hot damp’’ (Stow, 244). This shows how it is shameful for the government official to stay in such a house. Conclusion The above books are a clear indication of how the society behaves. However, the first two books are showing the urge of social change, as well as why communities need to embrace the modem trends through civilization. Although ancient traditions are treasures for many communities, they should as well see the positives brought about by the social changes. All genders should be respected, as well as being protected against social discrimination. In addition, governments should be responsive to social problems and be proactive in the same. At individual levels, people should as well try to ensure that they avoid shame to the society. However, this is dependent on the social status or position of an individual. This is what Randolph Stow’s Visitants illustrate. Work Cited Abe, Kōbō. The Woman in the Dunes. New York: Vintage International/Vintage Books, 1991. Internet resource. Ahmad, Jamil. The Wandering Falcon. New Dehli, India: Hamish Hamilton, 2011. Print. Stow, Randolph. To the Islands. St. Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press, 2002. Print. Stow, Randolph. Visitants. St Lucia: Univ. of Queensland Press, 2003. Print. Read More