Introduction to”Ruth and the Hijackers”
Language, identity and cultural mores are three important aspects of the culture of a colony in postcolonial studies such as in “Ruth and the Hijackers”. Colonization, argues Ngugi, robs a person of language and ultimately culture of a person, for language carries “the entire body of values,” which are lost with the loss of language (05). In the same way, identity is destroyed when nationalism and imperialism lock horns, and alterity comes into play due to deeper typological domination of the imperialistic episteme where race plays an integral part (Suleri 11-12). In the midst of this struggle of language and identity, cultural mores, the major product of both cultures, takes hold of the situations very often. The story of Ruth, an American national, living in the Lahore cantonment area shows these important traits of postcolonial literature. However, one more thing that strikes the reader and makes him rather baffled is the resistance of the local cultural representatives, and the pliant nature of Ruth, the imperial representative, in “Ruth and the Hijackers”.
Language and Culture in “Ruth and the Hijackers”
As far as the impact of language on a culture and values is concerned, “Ruth and the Hijackers” shows this through Raj Roy and the elite class ladies who are engaged in various activities in clubs that Ruth visits. The language ordinarily spoken in clubs and at every other social spot is that of the colonial power. It has become a habit for the Pakistanis to have a “penchant for calling people with initials” and even an inspector of the ISI was speaking English that Ruth says was better than she expected. “He spoke better English, “she says (Sidhwa 68) but then comes the very interesting moment that does not need elaboration. Billo has taken up English as her second language from her “memsahib” (59, 68, 69). She does not speak English but tells her employer, Ruth, what to do when a man enters their home, or what not to do in such circumstances. This adoption of the language of the master, however, is not being used to “dismantle the house of the masters” in the Lordian phrase (01). Rather, it is being used to feel proud at as well as for identity formation.
Identity in “Ruth and the Hijackers”
Where identity is concerned, Ruth also makes it clear to Raj Roy at the very start of the story as well as to ISI boy, Junaid Akhtar, that she is from America at the attitude of both of them changes. This is her first attempt at identity formation. However, conversely, Junaid, though, is a bit insolent, tries his best to adopt the language of his last masters and uses it to dislodge Ruth’s identity but still stops short of using the Lordian argument (01). However, the use of the English language makes it clear that this language is merely vehicle of information or to impress the new master, Ruth. The excuse for this impressing upon the new master is the presence of “an Indian woman” that is anathema to the Pakistani psyche at that time (Sidhwa 68). However, it gets very interesting that the identity that Junaid tries to form evaporates ine thin air as soon as Billo uses the same language to confront him with an entrenched cultural more (69). This confrontation of the imperial language to represent the local cultural more is interesting, as it ultimately saves the new master from embarrassment.
Hybridity and “Ruth and the Hijackers”
The important point of cultural more is that they depict the hybridity; a fine amalgamation of the local tradition of not letting the men enter homes when the owner of the home is not at home. This, Ruth, as a foreigner, does not know. However, Billo is very well aware, and though her linguistic ability does not surpass Ruth, but her knowledge of this specific cultural more saves her landlady. That is why Ruth has a good “appreciation of Billo’s overbearing and meddling ways” (Sidhwa 74). She knows that it is her unawareness of the cultural mores that could cost her dearly in a situation where a paranoid security man is hellbent on making her look like an accused. This hybridity that Bhabha has stated as the state of “ambivalence” has tendency towards an imperialistic attitude, the reason that her Americanness has been graced by the person in power, the retired general. The most interesting is Ruth’s attitude in the story “Ruth and the Hijackers.”
Conclusion
This attitude of the imperial representative to the new imperceptible and invisible colony is imperio-spora . This term implies depicting the colonial attitude of the representative of the new imperialism as somewhat ambivalent that is not domineering and respectful to the local cultural more until it protects. Ruth saves herself through Billo but with the tool provided by Ruth; the language. It, however, is another thing that Ruth has to accept the authority of the apparatus of the state but has to leave her colonial authority in the shape of language; the remains of the old British Raj which she sees very much in the Lahore cantonment. In other words, “Ruth and the Hijackers” amply shows postcoloniality through language, identity, and cultural more.
Works Cited
- Bhabha, Homi K. “”Signs Taken for Wonders” — Hybridity and Resistance. The Postcolonial Web. http://www.postcolonialweb.org/poldiscourse/bhabha/bhabha4.html. Accessed on 17 April 2018.
- Lorde, Audre. “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House.” UCLA. n. d. http://bixby.ucla.edu/journal_club/Lorde_s2.pdf. Accessed on 17 Apr. 2018.
- Suleri, Sara. The Rhetoric of English India. University of Chicago Press: Chicago. 1992.
- Wa Thiong’ O’ Ngugi. Decolonizing the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature. East African Publishers, 1992.
Relevant Questions about”Ruth and the Hijackers” by Bapsi Sidhwa
- How does “Ruth and the Hijackers” by Bapsi Sidhwa explore the postcolonial identity and the impact of colonialism on its characters and setting?
- In what ways does the novel, “Ruth and the Hijackers,” reflect or challenge traditional postcolonial literary themes, such as cultural hybridity, resistance, or the legacy of colonialism?
- Can you discuss the role of gender and power dynamics in “Ruth and the Hijackers” and how they intersect with postcolonial themes in the story?
