28th Annual Student Research Conference
Living Under the Colonial Thumb: The Portrayal of the Individual in A God in Every Stone by Kamila Shamsie
Maria G. Taboada
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
In A God In Every Stone, one of the largest themes is the struggle the characters face when choosing who to trust during wartime. The examination of how the colonized people trust or distrust the empire they are subject to is best shown by the relationship the main character, young Englishwoman Vivian Rose Spencer has with two male characters: Najeeb Gul, and Thasin Bey. These two men become a part of Vivians life at different times, but her interactions with them exemplify the relationship of the colonized with the colonizer: Thasin tells her a secret but then Vivian tells his secret to others, and with Najeeb, Vivian takes it upon herself to teach him and impart a love of archeology and the classics. This paper will show how the relationship Vivian has with these characters mirrors the political relationships their respective countries have with each other.
Keywords: A God in Every Stone, Kamila Shamsie, colonialism, WWI, colonization
Topic(s):English
Asian Studies
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 202-5
Location: VH 1010
Time: 12:00