ENG2002 Intro. to Lit: Drama, Spr2019
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The play Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar inspired me to think about the way people are connected to their own cultures. The theme of this play is identity politics in Muslim Americans and islamophobia, but the idea can be related to other cultures and religions as well. Some people, like Abe and Amir, turn away from their background for various reasons and adopt another, while others embrace their culture and live their lives according to tradition. This made me wonder what makes people with the same upbringing either turn away from it or embrace it. During an argument between Abe and Amir in Scene 4, Abe tells Amir “You’ll always turn on your own people. You think it makes people like you more when you do that? They don’t. They just think you hate yourself”. He says this to him because Amir had always claimed that he turned away from his culture for a better life he could not have in Pakistan, but since Abe had a change in heart on the subject he believes that Amir hides his culture to be accepted by people, meanwhile it makes those people think he hates himself and his culture. He is suggesting to Amir that he did not assimilate to avoid prejudice from people who criticize his culture, but that he himself is critical of his own culture.
Ciara,
You’ve done a great job at closely reading (analyzing) this section of the play. I also think you’ve illustrated something that the playwright wants us to do– which is see the universality of what Abe and Amir have done– in other words, see the application of their struggle to, as you say, “other cultures and religions as well.”
This play has gotten me to engage in the idea of whether or not I should be submissive to the stereotypes or the “social norm” that is affiliated with the color of my skin or how people see people like me. I only began to think of this when I was confused on whether the intentions of Amir skipping the metal detector and going straight for the strip search was selfish or selfless. I began to also ask myself if I should never run away a police officer with my hoodie on or if I should always submit myself as the lower class just because of my background or where I come from. even writing this makes me feel a little weird because I felt like Amir knew what he was doing but at the same time he didn’t. he probably thought what he was doing was right but what if the audience took what he did as the exact thing they should be doing themselves. what lesson did the writer want us to take from it because to be honest I am still a little confused. should we follow the steps of Abe or Amir?
I see the whole ending part, when all the drama sprung out, ad just a way to enlighten the audience. I believe the main concentration point should be wrapped around whether or not Amir was right for how he lived his life, or whether or not Abe was right for how he lived his life. In the end Amir lost everything that he had worked for, even his wife. Does that mean that if I change my mindset to the way Amir’s was, will I also lose everything in the end or will I come to an understanding of who I really am? Should I show the people around me who put me in a certain category or judge me with a specific criteria that I am what they think I am? Or should I live my life according to what I believe in without feeling ashamed or continuously battled in regards to how I have to portray myself I order to be accepted? These things just kept on popping up in my mind as we read the playwright and they are still questions that I am battling with. I agree with the writer wanting his audience to engage in the play but the only bad thing about it is that most of us who engage in it will also come out with questions that we don’t have answers too as well. Ayad Aktar said in his interview that he had no answers for the questions that were in the play….But his questions led to even more questions.
Katrine,
Thank you for your honesty and thoroughly engaged line of questioning! I know what you are saying– in many ways this play leaves us with way more questions than we went in with. And it may even undo our sense of ourselves, which is uncomfortable to say the least. But it does make us think and feel and see different perspectives– which is the point of art.
Your question “Should we follow the steps of Abe or Amir?” is incredibly insightful in that it boils the play down to this one simple and clear question–for which, as we’ve learned, there is no answer! I think the author has no answers (as we learned in the interview), but rather believes that by asking questions we, as fellow human beings, leave ourselves open to different points of views and perspectives, which will ultimately help us evolve into more compassionate people.
The play “Disgraced” by Ayad Akhtar is interesting to say the least. The author does attempt to tackle modern day issues head on but also leaves space for the reader to make a connection on their own. This play has inspired me to think about the roles that race plays in our relationships. With both couples (Amir and Emily, Jory and Issac) being form different races, conversations intensified when talking about the topic because each race besides Emily has had their own for m of injustice against them. This play also made me think about the role a man has in protecting his loved one and not in harming her. The terrible decision Amir made was an eyeopener not only in controlling ones self and/or emotions but to also teach women to protect themselves and for both parties to have a respected boundary in which never to cross, especially Amir with the assault. And also Emily with the cheating.
Very thorough and thoughtful response. I am glad that the play got you thinking! Although there are some light moments, the majority of this play is intense to say the least…
The play “Disgraced” by Ayad Akhtar had me feel connected to the character Amir. I kind of relate to what he has to go through being a Muslim in New York City, specially after 9/11. We would be looked at differently and treated unfair. I personally had to go through a lot when I was a kid at school. Being a Muslim in New York City was hard, people would make fun of you, bully you, and blame everything on you. It was challenging getting along with other people, just because of your religion. Which I relate to Amir when he worked really hard to be perfect and be in a higher position at his firm, but due to him being Muslim it wasn’t going to happen and his position got passed on to Jory, who didn’t work as hard as Amir did. This shows how being Muslim in NYC was tough and all Muslims had to go through a rough time. Every Muslim got blamed for what happened during 9/11 and got treaded different everywhere they went. I myself had went through that time period and trust me it was hard.
Osama,
Thanks for your honesty about this issue. I think the play sheds light on the unfair treatment that so many people have to endure at different points in their lives due to their heritage, race, religion, gender etc.
Hi Osama, I feel sorry for you.
I can understand what you have gone through just because of your religion, and I am sure that there are many other Muslims who have faced similar situations. After 9/11 attack, almost all Muslims are associated with terrorism. Because of their religion, Muslims expect to be hated and feared. This notion has made Muslims live life in New York City very challenging. In the play ‘Disgraced’, the assumptions of racism and prejudice have defined the actions and attitudes of Amir and Abe. In order to adjust in modern society, Amir gives up his Islamic religion and tries to remain as neutral as possible. He initially hesitated to help Imam as he does not want to be associated with Islam and terrorism. Also, Amir tells his partners, Steven and Jack, that his parents were born in India, whereas the city his parents were born is now considered as Pakistan. He rationalizes his statement by explaining to them that the City was technically in India before the British ruled and chopped it up into two countries. On the other hand, Abe changes his name and dressing style so that he won’t be looked at or judged as the same. Ayad Akhtar has beautifully portrayed these characters in the play to show how identity politics can affect one’s behavior and attitude being in a certain society or environment.
Shanti,
I appreciate your acknowledgment of Osama’s comment and your general awareness of how difficult life can be for people of certain backgrounds due to other people’s assumptions and prejudice. Also, your observation about Akhtar’s skillful portrayal of identity politics and how it affects the dynamics (whether between colleagues or friends) is very insightful.
Consider “qualifying” your generalization in the fourth sentence (for example, using words like “may expect” or “might expect”) the way you did in the third sentence when you said “almost all” instead of “all.” It’s good to give your writing this type of flexibility, so that you are acknowledging that nothing is ever 100%.
The play “Disgraced” by Ayad Akhtar made me think about a lot of things, especially about the way we still see Muslim religion and people who practice Islam. Religion is something that was always the cause of many discussions, conflicts and also wars. After 9/11 everyone was scared and when someone is scared, they need to express their anger and fear somewhere and onto someone- and that someone was entire muslim population. I believe that we need to work really hard to get over those stereotypes, because unfortunately, there are bad people all around the globe in every religion, race and culture.
I felt the stereotypes on my own skin, many, many times. As an immigrant from Serbia( beautiful country, but unfortunately famous for its wars and “aggressive people”) I always felt terrible when someone asked me where am I from and when I answered, they would usually say-“Oh…” like I told them something bad. This is why this play had a really big influence on me, and I am hoping that I will have a chance to see it once.
Aleksandra,
Thank you for your honest response. It seems that this play really hit home for you. I think you are right: “we need to work really hard” to get over stereotypes and understand differences. I really hope you can see the play someday as well!
“Disgraced” by Ayad Akhtar reminded of an incident that happened roughly a years ago when I saw a video online of a woman by the name of Gonzales, Elizabeth Dauenhauer, and her three children entering the Islamic Community Center of Tempe, Arizona saying hate-filled epithets about Muslims, stealing air fresheners, tearing pamphlets off the wall, and letting their children climb on a funeral van. While making a video on Facebook live showcasing the whole event. It made feel disgusted with how wicked people are becoming by the day. Not just people of Islamic faith are treated badly but also the rise in hate towards people of the Jewish community with the recent Synagogue shooting just a day ago as well as all these school shootings going on like the parkland school shooting and the UNC North Carolina shooting on the Charlotte campus. This play made me think if school’s and house’s of worship are not safe then what places in the country are…
Saif,
Thank you for sharing the story about the disrespectful incident in Arizona. Also, yes, I think the playwright wants us to think about the world around us and how hatred exists in many forms in may places. “How can we be force against that hate?” is also something that the author is trying to get us to consider…
The play Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar inspired me to think about culture and how the environment plays a huge role in culture. Amir was raised in an environment where his mother made him hate Islam. For example, when amir was a child and his mom found a note from his crush, she was furious with him because she was a jew, and his mom hated jews. His mother spit in his face which made him think it was acceptable to spit in someone else face. I believe because of his mother, and the way she raised him was the reason why he lost his belief in Islam. This play also makes me think when Amir was taking to Issac about if your wife disobeys you, you should beat her. I find this interesting because it shows Amirs true colors on how he feels about that because in the end of the play he end up hurting his wife.
Annisa,
You do a good job of supporting your points with examples from the text. This is excellent analysis & close-reading of the material. And you make some very good points as well.
The play “Disgraced” by Ayad Akhtar has inspired me to realize that even if you’re married to someone you don’t truly know them. For example, Emily was shown to be a woman who respected everyone and had good morals, but one thing she tried hiding from her husband Amir was that she cheated on him with Isacc, a man she worked with. This goes to show that Emily would’ve kept that secret hidden for way longer if it wasn’t for Amir and Jory walking in on her and Isacc about to kiss. Amir is also at fault because he was talking about how Islam allows beating if the wife disobeys the husband. I think Amir is confusing culture with religion. Being a muslim myself, what I was taught that even a slap to the face isn’t allowed and as for the wife disobeying the husband he misinterpreted “beat” The word beat is followed by how the “beating” should go about, when beating your wife which is the last resort if she disobeys you is to hit her with 100 long grass strips and to gently tap her where there should be no marks apparent. Amir disagreeing in the beginning ends up hitting Emily after finding out she cheated on him.
Hajrie,
Thank you for sharing what you were taught regarding what the word “beating” means. Also, I think your observation that Amir is “confusing culture with religion” is very insightful. This is, in many ways, a heart-breaking
story, and the playwright’s choice to center is around the dissolution of a marriage really makes us absorb both the personal and more general cultural turmoil that Amir experiences.
This play made me realize that no matter what, like Amir, we will always be a slave to society. With Amir being raised in a Muslim background, i came to the realization that society will only perceive you as the stereotypes that arise from your background. I realized this because of the symbolism depicted by the use of Velazquez’s painting, “Juan de Pareja”. I feel that this specific painting portrayed the image of how one can pretend they live a luxurious life, however the truth is that they will only be seen by others as a slave. In this particular case, Amir’s wife whom painted it as Amir being the muse, which is the slave, i feel that it shed light on what Amir’s identity really was and how he finally came to terms with it. Amir is described as a living the American Dream, being a successful lawyer, with a beautiful white American wife. However, as much as his fancy shirts and luxurious apartment help him create his image, society only saw as him as the Muslim who associates with terrorism. It’s crazy to think that it could be ten, twenty, even thirty years after 9/11, but people still call and associate the religion of Islam and it’s followers, as terrorists. Not just with Islam, but with any race and ethnicity as well. What also made me realize, that you never really know someone until you’ve had dinner with them. You can think someone is your friend is and they respect you, and everything that surrounds you, but wait until you ask them about politics. Not saying that they’re not still your friends, but like i said, you dont really know someone until you’ve had dinner with them.
Bella,
I love the details in this post (e.g. your mention of Amir’s shirts). Also, your discussion of the Valzquez painting is really on point. Finally, your closing observation is truly insightful.
“Disgraced ” inspires my way of thing about religion especially Islam. At the beginning of the play, when Amir was just introduced as a Muslim by heritage but not a Muslim by practice, I made a quick judgement that he is a “sinful and a bad Muslim” without having to know his actual reasons. Later in the paly when I learned about his insecurities, I understand him more. Because the play took place 10 yrs after 9/11, Amir is a Muslim, and from middle east, it is understandable that he is not comfortable carrying along his heritage because of other people’s assumption about him. This play has reminded me to not make a quick judgement about other people without knowing the whole story.
Ida,
Thank you for your honest response! I think the play’s effect on you is exactly what the author intended.