Divulging Religious Discourse In Four Anglophone Pakistani Fictions: A Textual Analysis

Abstract

Narratives of various kinds can be found in religious discourse, constituted by a religious content or at least by a religious context. A religious content can appear in one or more of the following forms like a character presented directly or indirectly as religious or non-religious in regard to his/her identity, character traits, opinions, experiences, emotions, behavior, personal appearance, social context, knowledge, duties, wishes or intentions (e.g. a monk, an atheist, a believer). Secondly, a “supernatural” being (related to a religious belief system) as part of the narrative world. Thirdly, direct or indirect references to religious texts, beliefs, rituals, places or buildings within character or narrator discourse. In this context, this paper unveils the religious narratives in four Pakistani fictions written in English which includes; Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie, Meatless Days by Sara Suleri, A Case of Exploding Mangoes and Red Birds by Mohammed Hanif. It also disclose the religious stereotypes in global context of Japan, US, Turkey, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.