Patriarchal Intolerance in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees
Patriarchal Intolerance in Elif Shafak’s The Island of Missing Trees
Author(s): Andreea IonescuSubject(s): Gender Studies, Political history, Turkish Literature, Theory of Literature, British Literature, Sociology of Literature
Published by: Addleton Academic Publishers
Keywords: Turkish-English literature; gender identity; political conflict; brother enemies; personal trauma;
Summary/Abstract: Elif Shafak, a best-selling novelist of Turkish origin, once self-declared bisexual, is controversial today in her motherland, as she questions the patriarchal culture and all its traditions. In her latest novel, Shafak speaks about migration and relocation, and chooses to include two homosexual characters facing the intolerance of the islanders from the two communities in Cyprus’ divided capital ‒ Nicosia. The two male characters are not only in a love affair, but they also belong to politically opposing nationalities: Greek and Turkish. Shafak’s talent makes the story to be very meaningful for our complex existences and the next generations to come.
Journal: Journal of Research in Gender Studies
- Issue Year: 14/2024
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 78-85
- Page Count: 8
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF
