Thursday 4 October 2012

The Sandpiper by Ahdaf Soueif analysis


"What role does 'place' play in forming one's identity? How does this affect the narrator in her life?"

The narrator's life and her identity is shaped by this foreign land that she has moved to. Coming from a western world, as a woman, into an Arabic country, there are certain cultural perceptions that will ultimately alter her identity.

The foreignness felt by the narrator is conveyed throughout the story. "My husband translated all this for me and said things to her which I have come to understand meant that tomorrow I would get used to their ways." This quote represents her inability to conform to the cultural and social acceptances.

"If I tried to do the shopping the prices trebled." indicates that even the local merchants tried to take advantage of her 'foreignness' as she was incapable of altering herself to meet their demands or expectations.

Perhaps the most apparent portrayal of the result of the setting on the narrator is the "fading love" experienced between her and her husband. The flashbacks present within the story, "My second summer here was the sixth of our love - and the last of our happiness." allude to the vast differences between their relationship at various times. This foreshadowing as well as an imminent doom, relationship wise, allows the reader to sense the regret and deep emotional state experienced by the narrator.

The narrator was from Europe and her marriage to an Egyptian man has cross-cultural implications. Even though "the inferior status of women" was explained to her, she still went through with this marriage. One could presume that the narrator's ethnocentrism was evident in assuming that her marriage would be more like a western one. "My foreignness, which had been so charming, began to irritate him." indicates that once he had returned home, the narrator's inability to change her to her setting, her 'place' affected their relationship. This is backed by, "He was back home, and he needed someone he could be at home with, at home." indicates that the narrator herself is aware of the implication her inability to conform is having on her relationship.

Lucy, is the daughter she gave birth to yet she refers to Lucy as 'his daughter' indicating that even though they are both her parents; the narrator identifies Lucy as belonging to him since she was born and raised in this foreign land. "My treasure, my trap" allows the reader to notice that the narrator, this woman, wants to escape, to leave, but she is held back by the maternal love she has for her daughter.

The place or setting is the biggest factor in this short story, it is a reason for the couple's fading love and growing estranged. The setting places the narrator in a foreign land, whose cultural values have a negative impact on her causing her to fade from blissful love to saddening regret and hurt. Her identity is altered to that of a foreigner as perceived by those around her and this changes her mind set, perceiving herself differently, as a different person.

I would love to hear how you understood this short story. Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments section below. 

19 comments:

  1. the analysis was extremely helpful and quite well structured however could you tell how the symbolism is used in the story and the way the sea and sand describe the changing relationship of the woman with her husband along with describing her life...

    urgent request

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  2. I think while sea symbolizes her and Western culture, the land, sand and continent Africa symbolizes him and Eastern culture.

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  3. Sorry about the late reply to the first question... Hope this answers it. And while the above comment is perfectly correct, you might be required to answer more in depth in an essay styled question.

    Here's my response... Too long for a comment.

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  4. In my opinion the sea is actually her memories.

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  5. how does the title relate to the whole story?

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  6. the sandpiper is a bird, and birds are free, without having to conform, whereas the author, in her story, is made to conform, and is confined. so, you can say that the title is meant to emphasise further, with irony, the author's situation.

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  7. Christopher Bell7 March 2013 at 23:46

    Her husbands the sea, shes the sand- the sea nibbling at the sand implies quarreling. Sandpiper is a bird that lives on the coast, so is inbetween a water and land dwelling bird. This could represent lucy (50-50 between parents). At the end it implys that the sea and sand know nothing about eachother. "And what does the sea know about..."

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  8. That is a great take on the story's title. Remember, most perspectives are accepted if backed up with quotes and evidence.

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  9. can you tell me that what are the symbolism in this story??

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  10. what's the ending of the story ??
    how does story ends ??

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  11. The way she walks on the path trying not to disturb even a grain of sand
    symbolizes her desire to be passive and not disturb the even keel of
    life, at least for the time being. The narrator’s mind is like the deep
    ocean that contains startling depths. So close to the ocean are the hot
    sands of the desert that spread for miles beyond.

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  12. abdullah saigal14 April 2013 at 10:29

    the story is basically titled "sand piper" as the women in the story dreamt of freedom and has a desire for it as she feels captivated and imprisoned , and sand piper is a name of coast bird that represent freedom .

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  13. surely its the other way around? That she is the sea, and he is the sand. The sea is cold the sand is hot, representing their two different home lands. And the last line could represent their love, which exists only in the shallow waters where they meet and is nothing deeper. They know nothing of each-other.

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  14. i like the way u have analyzed the story

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  15. plz give a detail account of the character of the woman. it will be very helpful is u do so. and thank you for the analysis.

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  16. plz give a detail account on the character of the woman, it'll be very helpful if you do so. and thankyou for the analysis they were really helpful in understanding the story.

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  17. am getting confused,,someone please help who is e sea and who is the sand

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  18. the way she walks on the path trying not to disturb even a grain of sand symbolizes her desire to be passive and not disturb even the keel of life, at least for the time being.the narrators mind is like the deep oceanthat contains startling depths.so close to the ocean are the hot sands of the desert that spread for miles beyond.

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  19. its true. i agree with you.

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