Representation of History and Urban Spaces: A Postcolonial Critique to Mohsin Hamid's Moth Smoke

Abstract

The study analyses Mohsin Hamid's novel, Moth Smoke, which explores how history is reimagined and how urban spaces are visualized in Lahore, reflecting the effects of colonialism. It also analyses the novel to explore the class division, corruption, and fractured identity of a post-colonial city. It aims to explore the impact of colonial history on urban space, social hierarchies, and individual identities, revealing the dynamics of power and identity. The theories of Postcolonialism and Marxism will be utilized as critical insights to analyze the novel. The insights will be used to examine the engagement of the novel with complex issues of postcolonial identity, class, and the effect of urbanization on individual and collective consciousness. The study will also critique the representation of history through Lahore's urban landscape revealing how colonial legacies and socioeconomic disparities shape identities. The study implicitly extends beyond literary analysis, offering insight into the socio-political complexities of contemporary Pakistan. It will also touch upon the issue of representation of postcolonial cities by indigenous writers. The study will contribute to understanding the politics of colonial discourse as presented through various perspectives.