ORIENTALISM IN JOHN UPDIKE’S TERRORIST

Abstract

The goal of this research is to look at John Updike's "Terrorist" as a Neo-Orientalist depiction of Muslims, particularly Arabs. Indeed, since the Crusades, there has been a centuries-long conflict between the West and Islam. The crusaders' philosophy was centered on the duality of "we" versus "them.". Western monarchs, clergy, missionaries, businessmen, and authors tended to see Islam and Muslims through myopic lenses, creating an exotic, weird, and distorted image of Islam and Muslims in their stories. These tales had a profound impact on how the Muslim and Islamic worlds were portrayed in the scholarly subject of Orientalism. The study demonstrates that orientalist depictions of Muslims as barbarians, lethargic, unprogressive, and a potential threat to world peace are still prevalent in today's world. Neo-Orientalism is the post-colonial label for this reincarnation of orientalist ideology. This Neo-Orientalist thought is echoed in many literary works written in the aftermath of 9/11. The famous novel "Terrorist" by John Updike, released in 2006, has been chosen as a model work for this purpose. The use of the Critical Discourse Analysis approach to the critical analysis of the story, particularly the depiction of Muslim characters. Furthermore, Updike's portrayal of Islam is based on its flaws, such as its indifference for self-improvement and modernity. The Muslim other is framed as the flawed equivalent of the perfect non-Muslim American in this novel's orientalism and imperfection designs.