Question 1: “TV People”
Question 2: “My World of the Unknown”
In Rifaat’s story, the biggest challenge that the audience meets is the ability to deduce meaning for the morals behind using the snake (jinni) as a coach for sexual pleasure. While the woman in the story plays an innocence character, the audience cannot still ascertain how an adult with whose cognitive capabilities are not in doubt can ascent to the fantasies that accompany the snake without informing the husband how she relates with the snake. For western readers the story could explain the structure of relationships in Eastern families and what roles are expected of the woman of the house as well as those of the husband. It also provides information as regards the connection between sexuality, spirituality and family matters in the East. On the other hand, the story provides a learning experience for Muslims as pertains the role of the husband within the family. It is important that the Muslim communities accept that women have their desires in life and sexuality is not just a procreation act, but also one that the husband and the wife can use to bond together.
Response to the discussion post
I agree with the author of the post that there is a temptation the ‘TV People’ primarily exemplifies Westernization. However, a deep analysis of the story shows that the TV does not have any Westernization effect since Western literature existed in the narrator’s home before the introduction of the TV set. Arguably, the narrator uses the TV as an excuse for his lack of focus especially on Sunday afternoons.
