"Home Fire"

1) Why do you think the novel Home Fire begins with the story of Isma's airport interrogation? Discuss the meaning of this incident and how it relates to other events in the novel, as well as the effect it had on you, the reader.

 

We currently live in a world full of hate and fear that are ignited through media and the internet. Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire, is a story of three British Muslim sibling and their battle with racial prejudice, loyalty, and cross cultural love. 

The story started with Isma en route to Massachusetts for her studies when she was stopped at the airport security for interrogation. This introduces the idea of how Muslims are stereotyped (with terrorist groups) and targeted, causing authority to put extra caution and security in public places. Rather than showing signs of anger by being held for hours, she shows restraint and resignation. She had expected that it would happen. Isma wanted to be compliant with the demands of the State because it will make her a good citizen. The rising prejudice that Muslims in the west now face is only worsening at a time when lots of their young join ISIS. Isma's family rang alarm bells for British authority because Parvaiz, her younger brother, has joined the media arm of the Islamic State in Syria before Isma's travel. The airport security questioned her "Do you consider yourself British?" implies an alternative question "or are you a jihadi like the rest of your family?". This is an inquiry about her loyalty in her faith and identity. This kind of discrimination builds tension between the state and the ethnical and religious minorities. Because of Isma's desire to fit in the British community, she began to have a dilemma between the laws of God and the laws of man. Her virtue overcome her love for family. Isma's decision to be obedient in the law fractured her relationship with her younger sister. The incident in the airport is just the beginning of discrimination and Islamophobia present in the novel. It shows how brutal our reality is and the instability of national identity of minorities.

The introduction of the novel clearly indicates the main theme of story. It was very realistic and teaches us readers that this situations could happen in real life, not just in the movies or stories. The novel is also about assimilation and individualism. Isma wanted to change her life, she chose what she thinks is right in the eyes of society without concidering how it would affect the people around her, especially her loved ones.