A Lyotardian Study of Religion in Mohsin Hamid’s Fiction

Abstract

The purpose of the present research is to uncover the presence of mininarrative regarding religion in Hamid’s postmodern novels while challenging the metanarrative ideologies prevalent in postmodern South Asian societies. In this way the present study finds its way in qualitative research. To analyze the texts, the present study relied upon and integrated the theoretical stance presented by postmodern theorist, Jean Francois Lyotard particularly his notion of “incredulity towards metanarratives”. The findings suggest that Hamid’s novels are highly unconventional. The textual analysis of Hamid’s novels exposes the presence of mininarratives regarding religion while showing skepticism towards the metanarrative ideologies regarding religion. The analysis suggests that relativity is the only truth in postmodern age and the experiences and individual choices of characters play a significant role in shaping their religious identities in postmodern societies. The various characters in Hamid’s novels are postmodern individuals. Their local, social, historical   and cultural contexts and their individual choices shape their religious identities in postmodern societies. The findings can develop interest as these intend to explore counter narrative/ mininarratives in contrast to grand narratives while giving voice to the unheard or plural. The same study can be further extended to the fictional work of many other postmodern authors while integrating many other postmodern theorists beyond Lyotard.