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- 1. Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid A presentation by: Zia Ur Rahman Ph.D. Scholar in English Literature Department of English, University of Malakand.
- 3. Contents Significance of the Title Brief Plot Overview Structure of the Novel Style and Language Thematic Analysis The Available Research on The Novel The Research Gap Conclusion
- 4. Introduction Moth Smoke is the debut novel by British Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid. The novel was published in 2000. It tells the story of Darashikoh Shezad, a banker in Lahore, who loses his job, falls in love with his best friend's wife, and plunges into a life of drugs and crime.
- 5. About The Title Moth An insect (in biological or concrete terms) Dangerous or fatal attraction (symbolically) In Love with flame Unintentionally sets itself on fire.
- 6. Continued…
- 7. Smoke
- 8. Continued… کر جل گیا رہ پروانہ جو قریب گیا ہے ہوتا جمال تک حدوں خاص جمال عروج بدایونی
- 9. Continued… Moth Smoke??? Guess from the title page of the novel:
- 10. Continued… So Moth Smoke in the novel: refers to the protagonist of the novel Darasheko Shezad who is: A drug addict Falls in love with his friends wife Reduced to smoke for his candle-Mumtaz Moth Smoke may also have other symbolic references
- 11. Continued… Refernces to the title in the Novel: “The poets say some moths will do anything out of love for a flame.” (p.133) “Dark streaks run down the moth’s folded wings. ‘Maybe he’s burnt himself.” (p.133) “The candle flame flickers and dims for a moment, then burns as bright as before. Moth smoke lingers. I lift the candle and look around the mantelpiece for the moth’s body, but I can’t find it. (p.133) “And I, the moth circling her candle, realize that she’s not just a candle. She’s a moth as well, circling me.”…And which of us is moth and which is candle hardly seems to matter. We’re both the same (p.193)
- 12. A Brief Plot Overview Moth Smoke provides a rare glimpse of the country's corrupt upper crust as well as its subculture of drugs, violence, and crime. The action is situated within the framework of two briefly rendered historical accounts: one functioning as a prologue that sets in motion the imperatives of the novel, and the other as an epilogue. Before the proper narrative commences, the prologue recalls for us the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan's concern over the fate of his empire and the struggle for power between his fiercely feuding sons, notably Dara Shikoh, the eldest, and Aurangzeb, the youngest. Between these frames is played out the story of Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh's twenetieth-century counterparts who share their name but are known as Daru and Ozi for short, not real brothers at all, but childhood friends from two different economic spheres in modern-day Pakistan. Hamid dislocates chronology and shuffles narrative voices as well.
- 13. Continued… He begins the narrative in Daru's voice, who is in a prison cell awaiting trial for a murder he probably never committed, and though this remains the dominant perspective, the rest of the story unfolds, mostly in flashback, interspersing his account with soliloquies and competing voices of other characters, courtroom fragments, and even an interview with his former professor. Much of the action is set in 1998 against the backdrop of Pakistan's nuclear explosions in response to India's similar detonation a month earlier. The novel traces the decline of Daru from a position of relative respectability to one of moral indigence and petty criminal activity. As he loses his job at the bank (which in any case he owes to the influence of Ozi's father) for being perverse with a wealthy client, he subsides into a kind of resigned moral and physical apathy that leads him to become a heroin addict and a drug pusher, mostly because it keeps him in touch with the upper class that, fatally, attracts and disgusts him at the same time.
- 14. Continued… When Ozi, who is suppported by his prosperous father, returns after three years of higher studies from America, Daru drifts into a love affair with his wife, Mumtaz Kashmiri. Mumtaz also leads multiple lives. She writes for a well-known newspaper under the pseudonym of Zulfikar Manto and stalks the streets and the seedy areas of the city incognito in the night to colllect information for her investigative reports. Daru, however, continues to be sucked deeper into a life of crime and ultimately attempts to rob a boutique in partnership with his low-life drug supplier Murad Badshah. However, he is not guilty of the murder for which he is charged to stand trial. He merely conveys the victim to the hospital after witnessing Ozi run a red light at top speed in his Pajero, knock down the boy, and speed away. In the end of the novel, Daru is still in court under trail but readers never know what decision does the court makes.
- 15. Major Characters Darasheko Shehzad Referred briefly as ‘Daru’ The reprsentative of the middle class. Close fiend of Aurangeb and Murad Badshah Initially working in bank but later fired due to objectionable behavior with a feudal client. After losing his job,he become a drug dealor, an addict himself, and finally a robber. Falls in love with the wife of his close friend Aurangzeb. Symbolically a Moth…
- 16. Continued… Aurangzeb Frequently as ‘Ozi’ in the Novel Represents the Upper or Elite Class. An American degree holder in Business Administration. A Businessman and son of money launderer.
- 17. Continued… Mumtaz Other names-Mumtaz Kashmiri (as a Modern woman) and Zulfiqar Mantu(Pen Name) Wife of Aurangzeb Open minded modern liberal woman. Likes smoking, drinking and attending parties. Frequently visits Daru when her husband is away.
- 18. Continued… Murad Badshah Representative of the lower class of the society. An MA in English degree holder. Riksha Driver and drug dealer. Crime partner of Ozi. Great lust for wealth and power t any cost.
- 19. The Formal Aspects of the Novel Plot The plot of the novel is non linear. Events are not an a chronological order. Technically postmodern Setting The city of Lahore is the primary setting of Lahore. Through the setting, the readers come across the different cultural and social traditions of the city. Narrative The novel is told from te perspecties of different characters. Most chapters from first person narrative point of view while also second person and third person narratice techniques are used. The strem of consiousnness is the highlight of these first person narrations These techniques also make the novel as postmodern as reader can’t rely or believe a single charcters.Readers have to create meanings for themselves. Story within a story The story of Ro and Lain as narrated by Aurangzeb.
- 20. Continued… Tone, Language and Style The tone of the novel is nostalgic as well as ironic. The writer has criticized the various evils of the society of the time. When Daru is going to rob the boutique, his feelings has been revealed in an ironic tone: “The signal was given and I walked in. If you learn nothing else about violent conflict, learn this: never rush. Take your time evaluate the situation, then act. When you have multiple tasks to perform, proceed sequentially, or you will make a mess of them all. Think of it as being assigned to read a long, convoluted poem, if that helps you. My tasks at this stage were to enter, control the crowd, rob them, and leave.” (p.82)
- 21. Continued… The language is symbolic. As the title indicates, the novel contains several other symbols.These include: Cars “and I notice the difference in the sounds of slamming car doors: the deep thuds of the Pajero and Land Cruiser, the nervous cough of my Suzuki.” Air Conditioning The loss of social status Names of Characters Refer to historical figures A fragmented style Especially in the case of Ozi when he is fired from his job. “And I’m single, with no job and no money, and no real hope of picking up anyone.” (p.97) It reflects his nostalgia, alienation and mental trauma.
- 22. Continued… Use of legal/court language. Incorporation of Urdu Words
- 23. Thematic Appraisal of the Novel Lessons from the Past/History In the prologue and epilogue of the novel, the author takes us back in time to the Lahore of the Mughal era. The author highlights the turbulent period in Mughal history when the aging Monarch Shah Jehan was distressed over the question of succession to the throne. Through this, the author draws a parallel between the political disturbance in the sixteen century and the Lahore of the present time. Lahore in the late 90s in the grip of serious political and social crises.
- 24. Continued… Social Injustice/Class Warfare When there is no justice in society then the inhabitants face the challenges of survival in that society. Characters like Darasheko and Murad Badshah are plunged into the dark world of crimes and drugs. Bank Manager does not stand with his employee but the feudal lord.
- 25. Continued… Critique on poor Legal system or Lack of Justice Daru is fired from his job but he can not raise his voice in such a system. He remains silent. On the other hand, Ozi is the actual killer of the cycle boy but he enjoys his luxurious life and no jail for him. “The accused has stretched out his neck beneath the heavy blade of justice, and there is no question but that this blade must fall.”(p.7) This is ironic since Daru has not killed the child but he is in the jail.
- 26. Continued… Economic Depravity and Unemployment Due to economic depravity, characters like Daru and Murad Badshah turn into criminals and drug dealers. Daru suffers from economic depression after his repeated failed attempts of finding a job. His electricity is cut due to non-payment of bills. Loss of electricity and air conditioning symbolizes the loss of social status for Daru. Daru is usually seen as alienated and lost due to his severe economic conditions: “But you get no respect unless you have cash. The next time I meet someone who’s heard I’ve been fired and he raises his chin that one extra degree which means he thinks he’s better than me, I’m going to put my fist through his face.” (p.131)
- 27. Continued… Class Difference/Marxism Marxism is displayed throughout the novel of Moth Smoke in that it is the central conflict of social classes between two friends, Daru and Ozi. In chapter Eight of the novel, the theme of maxism has been put forward by the author through the account of Prof.Julius Superb: “‘There are two social classes in Pakistan,’ Professor Superb said to his unsuspecting audience.. ‘The first group, large and sweaty, contains those referred to as the masses. The second group is much smaller, but its members exercise vastly greater control over their immediate environment and are collectively termed the elite. The distinction between members of these two groups is made on the basis of control of an important resource: air-conditioning. You see, the elite have managed to re-create for themselves the living standards of, say, Sweden, without leaving the dusty plains of the subcontinent. They’re a mixed lot – Punjabis and Pathans, Sindhis and Baluchis, smugglers, mullahs, soldiers, industrialists – united by their residence in an artificially cooled world. They wake up in air conditioned houses, drive air-conditioned cars to air-conditioned offices, grab lunch in air-conditioned restaurants (rights of admission reserved), and at the end of the day go home to their air-conditioned lounges to relax in front of their wide-screen TVs.
- 28. Continued… Critique on the Political System and Social Evils like Corruption and Bribery and Influence Culture The corruption in various institutions especially the police has been highlighted. When Daru visists his friend Ozi late night, he is stopped by a police and this conversation took place” “‘Isn’t there some way we can sort this out?’ I ask. ‘What do you mean?’ ‘Perhaps I could pay a fine instead,’ I suggest. ‘Shut him in prison,’ one of the mustaches mutters …… “The first mustache leads me a short distance away from the others. ‘This is a very serious crime,’ he says, ‘but I see that you’re sorry for what you’ve done. Give me two thousand, and I’ll convince them to let you go.”
- 29. Continued… Finding a job has been a challenge fo a talented scholar like Ozi. If you need to find one, you need to have a strong reference: “Butt saab continues. ‘Unless you know some really big fish, and I mean someone whose name matters to a country head,no one is going to hire you. Not with the banking sector in the shape it’s in.” (p.64)
- 30. Continued… Feudalism and the Power of Elite Class The novel displays the power and privilege of the rich, and how this shadows over the poor. Here is how Daru was fired from his job by his manager on the saying of a client ( a feudal) ‘Certainly.’ I escort him to my BM’s office, outwardly calm, because I don’t want him to see me squirm. But from the way my BM grabs Mr Jiwan’s hand, in both of his, and also from the way my BM bows slightly, at the waist and at the neck, a double bend, I know this is going to be unpleasant. ….. ‘I don’t know what came over me,’ I go on. ‘It won’t happen again. I’m very sorry.’ My BM says, ‘You’re fired, Mr Shezad.’
- 31. Continued… Daru is not stopped by the police next time when he is with his rich friend Ozi in his Pajero. “The police don’t stop us on our drive home. We are in a Pajero, after all.” (p.40)
- 32. Continued… Women as Victims/Feminism The darkest side of the society has been depicted in the account of Diaram. Not the fault of these women in the brothels. They are not there by choice rather the powerfully brought or decieved. “The landlord of our area asked me to come to his house. I refused, so he threatened to kill my family. When I went, he raped me.” (p.51) ….. ‘He kept making me come. He let his sons rape me. And sometimes his friends. One of them was from the city. He gave me a silver bracelet.’ (p.51) … ‘No. He told me the villagers would not accept me back because I had lost my honor. I believed him. The others knew stories of girls who had returned to their families and were killed by their fathers or their brothers. So I stayed on. ‘(p.61) “The landlord of our area asked me to come to his house. I refused, so he threatened to kill my family. When I went, he raped me.” (p.51)
- 33. Continued… The feminist feelings of Mumtaz are obvious in her thinking about her husband. I felt neglected, resentful at being the one left at home when I hadn’t wanted to have a baby in the first place. Things came to a head when Muazzam was six months old. I decided I wanted to work full-time again. Ozi was shocked. He said Muazzam was too young. I said if he felt so strongly he could ask for paternity leave. But he won the argument. He won it with a low blow. He looked at me like I was a stranger and asked if I loved our son at all. The question destroyed me. I started sobbing and I couldn’t stop. “P .181)
- 34. Continued… Socioeconomic and sociopolitical Problems The narrative suggests that late capitalism creates the conditions for poverty and violence, all of which are intensified by class division and conflict institutions. In chapter No.6 “The big Man”, Murad Badshah reveals how he was compelled to become robber by the change in policies of the new government which created problems for poor rickshaw drivers: “I took to carrying a gun quite some time ago, and it was but a short step from protecting my own on the high seas of Lahore’s streets to realizing that piracy was the wave of the future. The marauding yellow cabs had devastated the rickshaw industry, so I conducted a little redistribution of wealth on my own. Robbing yellow-cab drivers as they slept put my finances back in the black.” (P.75)
- 35. Continued… The Loss of Faith and Moral Values The gradual moral degradation of Daru and Murad Badshah leads to their complete downfall. They forget to differentiate right and wrong and get the things by Fair or Fowl means: “‘So, Murad, old chum, people kill people all the time, and usually with the barest minimum of fuss. You really must keep a sense of humor about it all. There is no moral issue here. Better to laugh at what you do not understand than to take it seriously and end up giggling hysterically in a padded cell off Jail Road.’ (p.77) “Guilt isn’t a problem, by the way. Once you’ve started, there’s no way to stop, so there’s nothing to be guilty about.” (p.219) “I wait for regret and guilt to come, but they don’t show up. The whole thing is between Raider and his friends. If he’s selling and they’re buying, it really has nothing to do with me. Just a little cash for my troubles, money that will make life easier for a few days.” (p.164)
- 36. Continued… War and Impact on the General People The novel has many reference to the nuclear tensions between Pakistan and India after their nuclear experiments. The absurdity, hysteria and alienation of people been referred. Even the fear of war is ugly. “The shopkeeper looks edgy, and the boy who brings me my drink doesn’t smile. Probably tense about this nuclear thing.” (p.113) “Murad Badshah shakes his head. ‘This nuclear race is no joke. Poor people are in trouble.’ (p.160)
- 37. Continued… Other themes in the novel include: The role of society in shaping our mind. Modernity and Young Generation Absurdity and Alienation Post-feminism Ecocriticism
- 38. The Available Research Analyzing "Moth Smoke" By Mohsin Hamid: A Formalist Approach EXPLORING SUPPRESSION AND CONFLICT IN THE DISCOURSES OF MOHSIN HAMID’S MOTH SMOKE Psychoanalysis and Transformation of Heroes in Mohsin Hamid’s Novels “Moth Smoke” and “The Reluctant Fundamentalist” “MOTH SMOKE: A STUDY IN THE LIGHT OF SOCIAL CONFLICT THEORY .” “The Post-Post Colonial Condition: Globalization And Historical Allegory InMohsinHamid’S Moth Smoke.” “Discerning Hyper Reality InMohsinHamid’S Moth Smoke: A Postmodernist Reading.” Linguistic Choices InHamid’S Moth Smoke: A Transitivity Analysis ELEMENTS OF MARXISM IN MOHSIN HAMID'S NOVEL MOTH SMOKE Analytics Of Power: A Hermeneutic Study Of Moth Smoke By Mohsin Hamid Connection between Crime and Power in Subcontinent: Analysis of Moth Smoke and The God of Small Things A TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF MOHSIN HAMID’S FICTION (PhD Thesis) Pragma-stylistic Analysis of "Moth Smoke" Class Conflict In Moth Smoke: An Analysis Of Mohsin Hamid’S Use Of Characterization
- 39. The Research Gap Based on my reading only: Postmodern Techniques Comparative Analysis with Reluctant Fundamentalist in terms of: War and Its Effects Corruption Class Division Absurdity of Existence in Modern World Psychoanalytic Readings
- 40. Thanks for your patience