Eng 2480 The Prophets Hair Quiz Name Instructions Please Com

Eng 2480 The Prophets Hair Quiznameinstructions Please Complete B

Eng 2480 “The Prophet’s Hair” Quiz Name: Instructions: Please complete both sections. Section I. Please answer the questions below in brief, but exact detail (50 points). 1.) How does the moneylender find the vial of hair? 2.) Why does the moneylender keep the hair? 3.) What plan does Huma devise to get rid of the vial of hair? 4.) How did the thief do to ensure that his sons would have a lifelong source of high income? 5.) Who dies by the end of the story? Section II. Please answer the questions below. Each response should be words, citing specific evidence from the short story. (50 points) 1.) In “The Prophet’s Hair,” what is the relationship between religion and money? What is Rushdie’s purpose in presenting this relationship? 2.) Discuss whether Rushdie is advocating for people to have more religion in their lives or pointing out how hypocritical religious followers are.

Paper For Above instruction

The short story “The Prophet’s Hair” by Salman Rushdie intricately explores the complex relationship between religion, morality, and materialism within a socio-cultural context. Through the narrative, Rushdie illuminates how religious artifacts and faith can be manipulated for personal gain, revealing the often hypocritical tendencies of devout followers. This essay addresses both the factual questions about the story's plot and characters, and the interpretive questions concerning Rushdie’s underlying message about religion and money.

Section I: Plot and Character Analysis

The first question asks how the moneylender finds the vial of hair in the story. According to the text, the hair, which is believed to be a relic of the Prophet Muhammad, is initially owned by a religious ascetic, but the moneylender, through theft or deception, acquires it. The narrative suggests that the moneylender's greed and desire for wealth motivate him to seek out and possess this sacred object. His discovery is a result of his manipulative pursuit of financial advantage, which underscores the greed that pervades the story.

The reason the moneylender keeps the hair is rooted in his perception of its power. The relic is believed to grant divine blessings and financial prosperity to its possessor. Consequently, the moneylender keeps it to ensure his prosperity, using the relic as a talisman to attract wealth. His decision reflects a broader critique of how religious symbols are commodified and exploited for personal enrichment, aligning with the story's theme of the corrupting influence of greed.

Huma, a central character, devises a plan to rid herself of the vial of hair after the relic brings misfortune rather than blessing. She considers the relic's negative repercussions and plots to destroy it. Her plan involves secretly disposing of the hair, perhaps by hiding or throwing it away in a manner that ensures it no longer influences her life and those around her. This action signifies her rejection of the corrupting power of greed intertwined with religious artifacts.

Regarding the thief's foresight, he deliberately ensures his sons' future wealth by secretly hiding the relic for himself, knowing its immense value and spiritual significance. He understands that possessing such a relic would secure prosperity for generations. His cunning and understanding of the relic's worth guarantee a lifelong source of income and status for his family, highlighting the powerful allure of religious artifacts as symbols of wealth and influence.

By the story's conclusion, the character who dies is the moneylender himself. His death results from the destructive consequences of his greed and the corruptive influence of the relic. The narrative emphasizes that greed, when unchecked by morality or genuine faith, leads to downfall and moral bankruptcy.

Section II: Interpretation and Critical Analysis

The second set of questions invites a deeper analysis of the thematic relationship between religion and money in Rushdie's story. Religion, as depicted in “The Prophet’s Hair,” is both a source of spiritual guidance and a tool for manipulation. The relic's journey from a revered object to a symbol exploited for personal gain underscores how religious symbols can be commodified, corrupting their original religious intent. Rushdie's purpose appears to critique this instrumentalization of religion, exposing how piety can be compromised by greed and material desires.

Rushdie does not straightforwardly advocate for more religion in people's lives; instead, he critically examines the hypocrisy often embedded within religious practice. The characters' actions demonstrate that many who profess religious devotion are driven by self-interest and hypocrisy. The story suggests that genuine faith is often overshadowed by the pursuit of wealth, status, or power, revealing the discrepancy between outward religious expressions and inner moral integrity.

This critique aligns with Rushdie’s broader literary aim of challenging superficial religiosity and exposing the corruptible nature of human greed intertwined with religious symbols. His narrative prompts readers to reflect on the authentic essence of faith versus its hypocritical manifestations in society. The ironic and satirical tone of the story emphasizes that true spirituality should transcend materialism, a message that remains pertinent across diverse cultural and religious contexts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Salman Rushdie's “The Prophet’s Hair” offers a nuanced critique of the interplay between religion and money. Through the fate of the relic and the characters' interactions with it, Rushdie explores how sacred symbols can be exploited for worldly gains, often leading to moral decay. His storytelling underscores that true faith should remain untainted by greed and hypocrisy. Ultimately, the story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of conflating religious devotion with materialism, urging a more sincere and ethical engagement with spirituality.

References

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• Frye, Northrop. (1957). Anatomy of Criticism. Princeton University Press.
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