Honor a novel by Elif Shafak confronts the stereotypes of Islam, more specifically honor killings and their role in Muslim families. The stereotype of Islam is radicalism: these few minority, radical Muslim groups have had the ability to taint a rather peaceful religion and to distort the view many individuals, particularly in Britain in the 70s and 80s (the setting of the majority of Honor), have of Muslim families. “The origins of Islamic radicalism in Western Europe can be traced to the 1970s and ’80s, when a number of Muslim dissidents, including some jihadi ideologues affiliated with violent offshoots of the Muslim Brotherhood, were forced to flee their home countries, such as Egypt and Syria, and arrived in Europe” (Mandaville). To further the conversation of stereotypes in regard to the novel Honor “In Britain the dislike of foreigners always catches me off guard…it is about how civilized you are” (Shafak). The British viewed Muslims (talking about the 1970s and 80s) as uncivilized considerably due to these few minority groups that have manipulated Islam to support their radical views, and due to honor killings. But the British’s perception of honor killings are all wrong, in this case. The reporting of the honor killing in the novel depicts it as a collective plan between male family members when in reality it was the doing of one individual.
The implications of stereotypes and labels are immensely damaging. All of Iskender’s life he was championed by his mother, Pembe would always call him sultan and he possessed a great deal of responsibility as being the eldest son after his father left to protect the family’s honor. Iskender’s reaction to being labeled as a Muslim immigrant, the eldest son, a “sultan”, handsome, a boxer, the responsibility of protecting their family’s honor was violent. His actions are not excused by how he was labeled or the pressure exerted on him, as it is shown his younger brother did not act in this way, but rather Shafak shows the implications of stereotypes and labels throughout the novel Honor.
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Stereotypes are not uncommon, but it is interesting to see how stereotypes affect the way other individuals in other countries appear. Just like you mentioned, stereotypes influence our the way on how to act or how to treat others. These stereotypes shape our perspective on how to maintain honor. Throughout the novel it is hard for me to grasp, this idea of killing a female figure to keep your family’s honor. You bring up a good point on how Shafak displays how labels and stereotypes can be damaging. For instance, with comparing Alex to his brother Yunus. I wonder how the novel would play out if Yunus had been the murderer instead of Alex. Thank you for this post, it definitely got me thinking about stereotypes and how they can affect family ties.
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in relation to “Delaneydalton” comment on how stereotypes skew our thought process to view other nations in an untrue reality. Or even people with in a nation but in a different level of society or part of a city. for example i know during my younger years kids my age where influenced not just by family but outsiders friends or acquaintances. during this time we where led to believe almost anything as some children do. raised to think of women as an object to control like in turkey or many other middle east nations. Also taught all other countries such as ( nations in Africa, Afghanistan,sadi Arabia, Mongolia etc.) where beneath America from a point of we have a fully grown technological society rich in resources they only have huts and small fire villages. this thought process developed at a young age over time is the reason that most stereotypes thrive today.
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Shafak really did a god job in making us understand he tensions between Muslims and “real Britains” ( National Front). I really liked how you summarized the novel without spoiling it. Now regarding stereotypes it sad to see that this novel is set on the 70’s and now alms 40 year laters we are still talking about the same issues.
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