Description
This research aims to dissect the grand narrative of Islamophobia under the umbrella term of “Orientalism”. All the stereotypes are part of the grand narrative that has been proliferated
through media and literature in the aftermath of 9/11 and has an impact on shaping society,
whereas this grand narrative is hyperreal in its immediate timeframe but with the consistent
propaganda it has turned into the third stage of sign which is the fabrication of reality. My
primary texts are Terrorist (2006) by John Updike and The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2007) by Mohsin Hamid, as both these novels portray post-9/11 American society and the stereotypical representation of Muslims. This research aims to highlight the grand narrative in both novels tackling stereotypes, discuss and explore the impacts of these narratives in our society, and prove them as hyperreal narratives. This research will be focusing on two theories, the major theorist is Edward Said and Orientalism will be used as a lens to study the representation of Muslims in both the primary texts and the supporting theorist is Jean Baudrillard, and his work Simulacra and Simulation will be used as a theoretical framework to discuss the third and fourth stage of sign of the grand narrative. This research is significant as it will be dissecting the grand narrative of Islamophobia created by the West and then challenge it in the light of Postmodernism. The grand narrative of Islamophobia has not been proven as a hyperreal narrative that holds no correspondence to reality in the immediate timeframe of the 9/11 event.
Keywords: Grand Narrative, Stereotypes, Islamophobia, Orientalism, 9/11 attack,
Terrorism
