From Orientalism to Re-Orientalism: An Analysis of A Pakistani English Fictional Narrative

Abstract

Introduction: Re-orientalism refers to the act of representing the Orient by the Orient itself as the 'Other,' a role historically undertaken by Western scholars. This phenomenon is often carried out by diasporic writers who, while residing in the West, portray the dark aspects of their native cultures.

Methodology: The study used interpretavist research paradigm as a mode of analyzing the hidden realities in the selected work This paper conducts a close reading of Nadeem Aslam's novel The Wasted Vigil.

Results/Findings: The analysis reveals that Aslam presents a skewed image of local culture, both by emphasizing its darker sides and by twisting core cultural concepts to align with his own interests as a comprador writer. This misrepresentation not only distorts the cultural narrative but also einforces the harmful divide between the global 'centre' and the 'margin.'

Future Direction: The study underscores the need for further examination of the role diasporic writers play in cultural representation, particularly in the context of global politics, to mitigate the harm done to the perception of the Orient.