THE REPRESENTATION OF ORIENTALISM IN SALMAN RUSHDIE’S HAROUN AND THE SEA OF STORIES

Abstract

The research analyzes some issues related to the representation of orientalism. It is portrayed in Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories represented by some various characters and settings. This is an interesting novel to be analyzed because Rushdie as the eastern people represents the East based on the western thoughts. This research is qualitative research. This research is divided into two kinds of data, primary data and secondary data. The primary data are taken from Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories. The data in this thesis are the selected dialogues and narrative structure. I also use journals, theses, articles, other books and websites as the secondary data in this research. In this article there are two goals of the study. The first goal is to answer how orientalism discourse is constructed in the novel. The second is to expose the writer’s critical position. This research uses Said’s theory of orientalism. After the research, it can be concluded that Salman Rushdie represents the orientalism in his work. Those constructions are the result of his study and an experience living in England. Rushdie has been influenced by the Western thoughts. In this point of reference, it can be seen that the Western reading books have an impact to Rusdie’s work and his critical position. Unconsciously, the way the West looking at the East is constructed on Rushdie’s mind. Rushdie agrees with the idea of orientalising the East through his work without any awareness. So, the empirical experience of the author brings evidence that the Western hegemony through the texts is successful.