29th Annual Student Research Conference
"Soiled Doves Fly Again": Nazneen's Journey of Finding Herself Through Sexuality in Monica Ali's Brick Lane
Courtney L. Shannon
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
Monica Ali's Brick Lane exemplifies, through young Bangladeshi bride Nazneen, the unbalanced dichotomy of power in an arranged marriage between a much older husband and a wife in unfamiliar British surroundings. Throughout the novel, Nazneen plays the dutiful wife, staying home and taking care of the house until she suffers from a breakdown and is allowed to take a small sewing job. From this contact with the outside world, she meets Karim and begins having an affair. Physically and emotionally, this affair brings about a confusion which Nazneen has never felt before. This paper will explore the way in which Nazneen finds herself, the ability to persevere, and the courage to forge her own path through her own sexuality.
Keywords: Monica Ali, Nazneen, sexuality, arranged marriage, courage, perseverance
Topic(s):English
Women's and Gender Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: -1
Location: MG 1000
Time: 1:00