Saïd the Fisherman · Question
How does Saïd the Fisherman develop the theme of Identity and Alienation?
Answer
Saïd the Fisherman by Marmaduke Pickthall develops Identity and Alienation across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
Saïd's journey to London and back, and his loss of status, highlight his struggle with identity and his alienation from both his native culture and the foreign world.
Saïd hides his true reason for leaving, fabricating a story to maintain his esteem among strangers.
Saïd's attempt to adopt the missionary's clothing reflects his search for a new identity, while his shaven head and old garments mark him as an outsider.
Saïd's assumption of a false identity as a high officer, and his unease among the villagers and at the khan, reflect his alienation from his true self and his surroundings.
Evidence in the book
- IV
Saïd hides his true reason for leaving, fabricating a story to maintain his esteem among strangers.
- VII
Saïd's attempt to adopt the missionary's clothing reflects his search for a new identity, while his shaven head and old garments mark him as an outsider.
- IX
Saïd's assumption of a false identity as a high officer, and his unease among the villagers and at the khan, reflect his alienation from his true self and his surroundings.
- Chapter X
Saïd feels lonely and out of place in the vast city, despite being mistaken for a person of importance.
- XII
Saïd's foreign robe marks him as an outsider, and his lie about his background underscores his struggle with his identity in an unfamiliar environment.
- XVII
Saïd, a fugitive, is drawn into Mustafa's world, feeling alienated by the old beggar's macabre enthusiasm and the strange environment of Nûr's vault.
- XXI
Saïd's involvement in the mob and his arrest reflect his shifting identity and alienation from the Christian community he once sought to join.
- VI
Saïd feels drawn to the foreign English culture, which creates a sense of alienation from his own traditions and faith, as highlighted by Selîm's warning.
