Introduction
It can be a surprise for many but social fairness is not available even for the citizens of developed countries. Unfortunately, there occasionally happen some cases of discrimination on gender, race, nationality, and others. There is no tradition to conceal this state of affairs from the public, which is supported by numerous pieces of art, articles, and books on the topic. Among all them, Disgraced by Akhtar is currently worth noticing. The play reflects a reality that is going on in society and makes people consider their attitudes to their ethnicity.
Main body
To begin with, the author shows that some people can hide their origins if it helps them eliminate the prejudices of others. There are a few examples of this statement in the play, and they deserve more detailed comments. Thus, Amir’s nephew changed his name from Hussein to Abe. He states that things are much easier for him since he made it (Akhtar, p. 12). Amir condemns his nephew for this change; the man even refuses to call him this new name. At the same time, Amir is also the one who changed some of the personal details. When his colleagues asked him at work where his parents were born, he answered India instead of Pakistan to get ahead and preclude possible problems (Akhtar, p. 34). The situations with Abe and Amir are quite similar, and Amir’s different responses to them follow a quite simple explanation. In this very manner, the playwright does his best to show that people can understand and even justify their actions, while others will deserve severe reproaches for the same. So, the play indicates that ethnicity can be a problem even nowadays and some people can neglect it for particular reasons.
Disgraced deserves additional attention since it depicts issues of modern society in their true colors without an intention to hide something or entertain the audience. Actions in the play take place against the background of the real world, which explains the presence of some challenging issues in the text. Firstly, the characters discuss the contradictory position of Islam in France (Akhtar, p. 58). This European country has witnessed a lot of problems recently, and the play pays special attention to this fact. Secondly, the author touches on the topic of September Eleventh, i.e., one of the most tragic events for the United States. Being a Muslim, Amir reveals he was proud of that terrorist attack (Akhtar, p. 62). Among other things, it means he cannot get rid of his roots no matter how hard he tried. His confession supports the substantial prejudice nowadays that all American Muslims are “potential terrorists or terrorist sympathizers” (Bayoumi, p. 141). These are the best examples of how the play reflects a reality that is going on in the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Disgraced is said to be a remarkable piece of art, discussing quite essential issues for the present society. The play does not attempt to color the actual state of affairs; the real setting and background are introduced to depict the existing difficulties for people of a particular origin. Unfortunately, the playwright does not state how it is possible to improve this state of affairs. Sometimes, however, solely drawing peoples’ attention to a problem can be enough to make everything change. Based on the information, the play is a must-read for people who want to live in a world free of prejudice and discrimination.
Works Cited
- Akhtar, Ayad. Disgraced. Little, Brown and Company, NY, 2013.
- Bayoumi, Moustafa. This Muslim American Life: Dispatches from the War on Terror. NYU Press, 2015.