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- Title
Religious Infamy as Failed Apprehension in Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses.
- Authors
Patrascu, Ecaterina
- Abstract
Surpassing biased interpretations, The Satanic Verses stands as a novel about the route to identity, about the self working its definition in relation with the others and with the history it inhabits. What is offensive in The Satanic Verses? Mahound, the Prophet, a character in Rushdie's novel, is required to establish the status of three goddesses, the daughters of Shaitan. The first revelation is that: "[Lat, Uzza and Manat] they are the exalted birds, and their intercession is desired indeed." (Rushdie 2006: 114), consequently asserting polytheism. Shortly after, he paradoxically abjures: "«Shall He have daughters and you sons?» Mahound recites. «That would be a fine division!» «These are but names you have dreamed of, you and your fathers. Allah vests no authority in them.»" (Rushdie 2006: 124) Polytheism arbitrarily turns monotheistic. Is this the offense against Islam? I dare say no. Both sets of verses are revelation outcome, not reflections of Mahound's personal convictions. The offense lies in the way in which truth grows to be established: externally, from outside one's judgement, not internally, as a result of one's process of reasoning and reflection. Therefore The Satanic Verses may read not as a scandalous Islam offense, as it has generally been adopted, but as a novel about the frustrations of falsity and the illumination of understanding, about acknowledging oneself as human and therefore authentic.
- Subjects
SATANIC Verses, The (Book : Rushdie); RUSHDIE, Salman, 1947-; IDENTITY (Philosophical concept); INFAMY (Canon law); RELIGION; POLYTHEISM; INTERCESSION
- Publication
Hermeneia: Journal of Hermeneutics, Art Theory & Criticism, 2012, Vol 2012, Issue 12, p177
- ISSN
1453-9047
- Publication type
Article