Sunday 4 August 2013

Sandpiper- Ahdaf Soueif

Soueif covers the cultural shock felt by the protagonist throughout the story. This is evident when she sees everything that is "commonplace" in this different country as intimidating and dangerous. The fear of the protagonist is evident in these large, culturally different surroundings, as she feels cornered by predators which she would have normally seen as "sparrows" in her home country. The readers notice the Englishwoman's sinking feeling of helplessness and sadness as she realizes that these creatures of "fear" are "commonplace" in this country, and that her "fear" was only within herself; a feeling that was "misplaced" in such an environment. This further allows the reader to understand the victims inability to fit in in this culture, portraying her disposition and alienation in this society.