Navigating Cultures and Conflict: Representation of Muslims in Terrorist and Brick Lane

Abstract

This paper investigates the delineation of cultures and conflict in John Updike's Terrorist and Monica Ali's Brick Lane. Both novels probe into the lives of Muslim characters in Western nations, supplying a lens into the intricacies of cultural identity, integration, and the strains that rise from social and personal conflicts. Terrorist chronicles the narrative of Ahmad Ashmawy Mulloy, an adolescent enrolled in a high school in New Jersey, as he grapples with his devout beliefs and the repercussions of extremist ideologies. Brick Lane focuses on Nazneen, a Bangladeshi immigrant living in London, as she navigates her planned marriage, cultural norms, and personal aspirations. This research offers a comprehensive analysis of how each novel portrays the immigrant experience, the challenges of preserving cultural identity in the midst of external influences, and the influence of socio-political contexts on individual lives. This research seeks to provide insight into the complex depiction of cultural conflicts and the exploration of personal identity among Muslim characters via the analysis of their journeys and the narrative methods utilized by the authors.