Terrorism as a Colonial Product: A Critical Study of By The Sea

Abstract

This research, accordingly, focuses on identifying the autobiographical elements in Abdulrazak Gurnah’s novel By The Sea. The study, furthermore, explores the impact of colonialism, showing how it has contributed to the rise of terrorism and extremism. The research aims to demonstrate how these global issues are shaped by the actions and influences of powerful groups and how the behaviors of the colonized, often forced upon them, lead to criminality. Moreover, the research uses a close reading technique to analyze the text, paying particular attention to the characters who reflect the author’s own experiences. This analysis is conducted within the framework of post-colonialism, which provides the theoretical basis for understanding the novel’s themes. The study is grounded in post-colonial theory, which incidentally examines the lingering effects of colonialism on societies and individuals. Indeed, this theory helps to explain how the author’s personal experiences and the broader consequences of colonialism are reflected in the novel. The analysis reveals that the novel By The Sea deeply mirrors the personality and experiences of Abdulrazak Gurnah. Similarly, it also shows that terrorism and extremism can be seen as consequences of colonialism, with criminal behavior among the colonized emerging as a response to the actions of the colonizers. The research, therefore, concludes that By The Sea is not only a reflection of Gurnah’s own life but also a commentary on the lasting effects of colonialism. Nonetheless, the study suggests that terrorism and extremism are direct results of colonial history and that criminality among the colonized is a reaction to their colonizers. This research, consequently, contributes to a deeper understanding of the autobiographical elements in Gurnah’s work and the broader implications of colonialism in literature. It highlights the relevance of post-colonial theory in analyzing contemporary issues like terrorism and extremism. Next, future research could extend this analysis to other works by Gurnah or explore similar themes in the literature of other post-colonial authors, likewise examining the connections between personal experiences and the lasting impacts of colonialism.