"In an Antique Land" and "Veiled Sentiments"

Paper Summary:

The paper examines Ghosh's "In an Antique Land" and Abu-Lughod's "Veiled Sentiments" and shows how both authors involve themselves personally in their works. The paper then illustrates how although both authors spend time on similar subjects such as religious practices and common every day living in society, their choice of focus is entirely different. The paper relates that Ghosh's focus is not only on his journey, the people and the culture but in how he is changed from his experience, while Abu-Lughod's work is not a personal exploration but is a study done to uncover some fundamental truth about the Bedouin society.

From the Paper:

"Ghosh presents his research very much in the same style as a novel. His delightful play of words and metaphors as well as similes keep the reader entertained as well as spell-bound to find out the next occurrence of the people with whom Ghosh surrounds himself. Ghosh's inclusion of himself into his story and research is exceptionally well done both in its translation of human social skills but also in the allowance to his audience in relating the first hand experience his journey has been.
"In Ghosh's narrative is the element of Diaspora, language and the land as seen through the eyes of foreigner. As such, the land is reevaluated through its people; through the people that Ghosh meets upon his journey. Ghosh gives definition to the land, through the culture of the people. He writes that it is through the people that a history can be fathomed; through their daily routine and interchange with each other there exists the past of the nation, the nation's identity as expressed through conversation, nuances, and facial expression all found with the people; in Lataifa's case the expression of past and culture is found with Ghosh's landlord Abu-'Ali."

More papers on "In an Antique Land" and "Veiled Sentiments":

• Book Review # 142067 : "Amitav Ghosh's "In an Antique Land"
• Analytical Essay # 15781 : "Veiled Sentiments"
• Case Study # 10072 : "Organizational Changes in an Israeli Travel Agency"

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