A. In The Literature of the Middle East and South Asia," Laura Winkiel writes, "These stories help us to understand the complex questions that Middle Easterners and South Asian people ask as they stand at a crossroads of cultural and religious change." Explain how this statement applies to one or more of the selections you read. Be sure to include the titles of the selections and explain the crossroads that they illustrate. In a simple essay
One selection that exemplifies the crossroads of cultural and religious change in the Middle East and South Asia is the short story "The Buried Moon" by Rabindranath Tagore. This story depicts the struggle between tradition and modernity, as well as the impact of Western ideologies on the society.
"The Buried Moon" takes place in a village where the moon is believed to be buried underground. The villagers worship the moon and believe its absence in the sky brings misfortune. The story revolves around a young couple, Ratan and Suri, who challenge the traditional beliefs of the village.
Ratan, the protagonist, encounters the modern world when he goes to the neighboring town for work. He becomes exposed to Western ideals and values, which captivate him and make him question the validity of his village's traditional beliefs. This represents the cultural crossroads faced by many individuals in societies undergoing rapid transformation.
The conflict between tradition and modernity becomes evident when Ratan, influenced by the Western ideas of progress and science, proposes the idea of digging to find the buried moon. He argues that it is irrational to believe in an underground moon when science has provided evidence to the contrary. This represents the clash between the deeply ingrained beliefs of the villagers and the new scientific knowledge that challenges their worldview.
The story also highlights the religious crossroads faced by the characters. The moon in the story symbolizes divinity and spirituality, which hold great importance in the traditional religious practices of the village. The concept of a buried moon challenges these beliefs and calls into question the entire foundation of their faith. This mirrors the broader religious changes occurring in the Middle East and South Asia, where traditional religious practices often encounter challenges from different religious ideologies or secularism.
Ultimately, "The Buried Moon" illustrates the complex questions faced by individuals in the Middle East and South Asia as they navigate the crossroads of cultural and religious change. It showcases the clash between tradition and modernity, as well as the influence of Western ideologies on indigenous beliefs. The story raises important questions about the impact of changing cultural and religious landscapes on individuals and communities in these regions.