Exploring gender relations in Shamsie’s Home Fire: A symbolic interaction perspective

Abstract

The present study examines Kamila Shamsie’s novel Home Fire (2017) for gender roles and demonstrates how gender roles determine the characters’ individuality in the text. The study has employed symbolic interaction theory to explore gender roles in the selected text. Mead (1964) and Blumer’s (1969) concepts of interaction and interpretation have been adopted to analyse gender roles. The probe into the text finds Home Fire an objective example of gender equality in terms of behaviours, professions, power, and appearance. The novel presents gender roles in natural and unique situations rather than in stereotypical ways. Shamsie has portrayed modern men and women performing distinct roles in society without engendering them. All characters behave according to their circumstances and individual personality patterns. Shamsie has maintained a terrific balance between male and female characters and has not presented women as victims or overburdened with the duties or responsibilities; nevertheless, she has presented genuine people who act differently in varying situations according to their temperaments.