International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 9, Issue 8, Augsut-2018 754

ISSN 2229-5518

Unmasking Certainties: A Deconstructive Analysis

of Mohsin Hamid’s How to Get Filthy Rich in
Rising Asia
Rubab Laila, Iqra Rasheed

Abstract: It has been established many years ago that a literary work can be interpreted in many ways, thus having no certain meaning. The present
study aims at deconstructing the dominant theme of individuals’ struggle in the novel “How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia” by Mohsin Hamid. With the
application of the Differance, as a tool, the study tries to explore the non- centricity, and free play of signifiers in the novel. Furthermore, the study
identifies the binary oppositions in the novel and subverts them by the application of deconstruction theory, given by Derrida. Moreover, the study sought
out that the structure of the language of the text of the novel is embedded with discontinues and contradictions and the discourse of the text is unlikely to
be unitary and unambiguous. The results are discussed through the qualitative analysis of the novel and by the application of the certain concepts of
deconstruction theory. The results suggest that the deconstructive interpretation of the novel “How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia” is rarely definitive;
instead it seeks to always problematize the meaning of text and suggest the depths to which the text operates. The significance of this study lies in
providing a new perspective regarding man’s struggle to survive in the society.
Key Words: Deconstruction, Derrida, Referance, Hamid, Binary Opposition

1. Introduction West (2017). Toni Morrison and Joyce Carol Oates were the
1.1 Literature mentors of Hamid, under whose supervision he developed

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The word literature is used to describe written and his love for writing and as a result he wrote the first draft of
sometimes spoken material. This word is derived from a Moth Smoke for a fiction workshop of Morrison.
Latin word “Litteratura” means “writing formed with 1.4 Plot Overview of How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising
letters”. Most commonly, it refers to the works of creative Asia
imagination including drama, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, Hamid’s both novels Moth Smoke and The Reluctant
journalism and in some instances song as well. Literature Fundamentalist were set in Lahore in which he combined the
provides a kind of blueprint of human civilization. From political situations with personal state of mind. In How to
the writings of ancient civilization like Egypt and China to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, he employs second person
Greek poetry and philosophy; from the epics of Homer to narration with no names for characters, any dwelling and
the plays of Shakespeare; form Jane Austin and Charlotte country in which the story is set. The story is about a boy
Bronte to Maya Angelou, literature gives insight and rising from poverty to wealth when moves from a village to
context to all human societies. It is important for us because metropolitan city. He starts earning his livelihood as a DVD
it addresses us, it affects us deeply and it is universal. delivery boy and later finds “the pretty girl” whom he
Literature is more than a historical or cultural loves till the end of his life. Meeting and separating many
representation of societies; it can also serve us as an times, both share a shaky relationship. The boy goes
introduction to the experiences of new world. through different phases of his life for becoming a
1.2 Novel successful businessman such as DVD delivery boy, a
Fiction is born out of the society in which it lives and university student, a man selling expired canned food and
thrives. It continuously influences the living styles of the finally having a business of bottled water. It is interesting to
society. It does not ignore the changes in the society, find that how Hamid has depicted a rural boy as
synchronic or diachronic, rather portrays them in a befitting progressive individual who acknowledges the importance
manner. For this purpose, a fiction writer portrays an ideal of education in present age and it is also a key to success.
world which teaches, delights, and improves upon the 1.5 Research Questions
existing set of circumstances. As he constructs a world of • How can the various conflicting interpretations, a
fiction, which, though abstract, is beautiful and attractive. text produces, be used to demonstrate the
1.3 About the Author instability of language?
Mohsin Hamid is one of those Pakistani writers who are • How do the binary oppositions, which are unstable
recognized and appreciated for contemporary literature. He and mutually dependent on one another,
has lived both in Lahore and California from his childhood, interweave the selected text?
so Hamid has dual identity. He is renowned for writing the 1.6 Significance of the Study
novels: Moth Smoke (2000), The Reluctant Fundamentalist The study will supplement the understanding of How to
(2007), How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia (2013) and Exit Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia with an insight of the major
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themes of the novel and their interpretation with Saussurist graphemics. According to them, the signifier and the
perspective of Deconstructive criticism. It will add up to the signified are always separated and produce new meanings [10].
existing researches, knowledge, and interpretations of the 2.3 Metaphor
literary work. Derrida’s concept of metaphor is expressed as “inexistence
2 Literature Review of clear meaning” [20]. The Western concept of meaning is
2.1 Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction obsessed with self and reality which suppresses its
From 20th century, language and its meaning phenomenon meaning. For Derrida, metaphor is a way of immobilizing
has become sociological and philosophical study subject. and liberating the meaning.
For Derrida, the language, which forms the meaning, has 2.4 Trace and Decentralization
become problematic so he developed “Deconstruction” According to Derrida, reads the ‘trace’ concept in a general
concept for solving this problem. Derrida emphasized that writing problematique which cannot be degraded to the grammè
meaning can be constructed independently. Deconstruction and only to audible things; in other words, the record of
is a critical thought method, given by Jacques Derrida, symbols, and which therefore resists to any sensual or symbolic
which criticizes linguistics and its fixed bases [13]. Derrida definiteness and to the ontic reductionism” [2]. Trace is neither
wanted to liberate the meaning of language from the verbal nor visual and it will bring its reader towards the
shackles of Western logo-centricism. For structuralist event or a text. Decentralization means that there is no
philosophers Urry and Keat, the language is structure of centre or self which results in the hypothesis that there is no
regularities, so every natural language lies under the words of fixed and unique reality.
those who speak that language as their mother language; the word According to Barbara Johnson, The deconstruction of
addresses the actual linguistic action [18]. Derrida criticized it a text does not proceed by random doubt or arbitrary subversion,
and claimed that an individual can establish different but by careful teasing out of warring forces of signification

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meanings in the text and as a result language gets within the text itself [12]. He finds out that a text can be
liberation. He was of the opinion that deconstruction is all organized through clashing forces which provide basis for
about “the plurality of meaning” [1]. deconstruction. Furthermore, for Jonathon Culler, to
Postmodernism plays a vital role in understanding deconstruct a discourse is to show how it undermines the
universe, criticizes rationalism in modern era and brings philosophy it asserts or the hierarchical oppositions on which it
forth irrationalism. Derrida, Baudrillard, Deleuze, R. relies [5]. Deconstruction exposes several contradictions in a
Barthes, Lyotard, Wittgenstein and Foucault are the text as there is always a gap between text’s assumption and
philosophers of poststructuralist thought and they are also reader.
in favor of postmodernism which questions modernity [11]. Cleanth Brooks, in The Well- Wrought Urn (1947),
According to Derrida, it is the duty of postmodernism to has given a new critical reading of W.B. Yeats’ poem,
deconstruct the world and its understanding can be gained Sailing to Byzantium. He finds out some oppositions and
through finding opposite of everything. The concept of tensions in the poem. He suggests that the word “artifice”
Deconstruction has suggested a method in which we can subvert weaves many contradictions and also indicates that Yeats is
these oppositions only by showing that one of the opposite terms interested in “artifice of eternity” not in eternity only [3].
can only exist within another [16]. For him, the irony of the poem not only transcends the
Deconstruction is a response to structuralism natural world but also the human situation as well. The
which asserts that language shapes an individual. Balkin “unreal city” in The Waste Land by T.S.Eliot and Byzantium
criticizes this approach by asserting that structuralists have are equally unreal; they acquire significance only by being
ignored the relation between language and culture. He contrasted with each other [14].
further describes that deconstruction nourishes the Jonathon Culler, in The Pursuit of Signs, describes
language with the assumption that it has universal, parallelism in the poem London by William Blake: The
cultural, flexible and historical meaning [1]. Deconstruction Church will be an oppressor of the sweep as the Palace is an
is a helpful method for revealing the implicit meaning and oppressor of the soldier [6]. This poem suggests different
leads to establish unexpected meaning in the text. perspectives which makes speaker’s position as an observer
2.2 Diffѐrance and observed. Its repetitive structure indicates that the
In French, “diffѐrence” means alterity and difference which speaker is entangled in vicious circle and unable to liberate
is derived from the verb “differ”. Derrida transformed “e” himself.
into “a” and made it “diffѐrance” which means both to Binary opposition is the key to ideological
postpone and to make different. For him, deconstruction is framework of the text. In the poem, Mending Wall by Robert
“the separation of a text by itself” [13]. For Frost, Lois Tyson has found binary opposition in the
deconstructionists, there is no direct and overlapping relation disagreement between the neighbor and the speaker [19].
between the signifier and the signified, conversely to the He asserts that conformity and nonconformity weaves the
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structure of this poem as binary opposition and the wall Hamid’s characterization of characters embodies both
works as metaphor. loyalty and infidelity, so it is difficult to judge a character
2.5 Binary Opposition from one perspective. His characters possess various
Binary opposition is a pair of relevant ideas that are complex characteristics.
reversed in meaning in a critical theory. Binary opposition 4.1.1.1 Uncertain Characterization of Pretty Girl
is an essential idea of structuralism, which recognizes such Hamid has not given name to any of his characters in the
differences are essential to all language and thought and novel. The character of pretty girl is introduced in chapter
they are considered as an essential organizer of individual three when the protagonist is a teenage boy. Firstly, the
viewpoint, tradition, and language. Derrida notices that appearance of pretty girl is uncertain as depicted by the
such coupling of opposites innovated by structuralism does author, No milky complexion, raven tresses, bountiful bosom or
not perform that way. Language does not function in any soft moon like face for her. Her skin is darker than average, her
clean way, unless a distinction can be made rigorous and hair and eyes lighter… as though she has been drawn with
precise, it isn't really a distinction [8]. It always flows over charcoal [9]. For Derrida, the language is ambiguous so
with contradictions and connotations and stuffed with there can be several interpretations. Here, the description of
opposed ideas and beliefs. the girl is totally different from the name attributed to her.
3 Research Methodology Throughout the novel, she is called as pretty girl despite
3.1 Research Design her less than average beauty.
The present study employs qualitative mode of inquiry. She is described as an ambitious girl who is ready
Qualitative Research suggests comprehending social to break the conventional norms of Asian society. She
phenomena within its natural setting [4], [15], [7]. By using belongs to a poor family whose father is addicted to alcohol
a qualitative research technique, researchers want to collect and mother is not well. So, she has to work outside the

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better information and get more extensive picture of house. In fact, she and her mother are compelled to earn by
problems, situations or activities [17]. They want to find the her so called father in order to fulfill his need for alcohol.
why and how of a scenario, not only what, where, and There comes a point in her life when she is ready to sell her
when. virginity just for the sake of becoming a successful model in
3.2 Theoretical Framework the world of fashion. After passing many years, she again
For its theoretical framework, this research draws upon appears in the novel as a bold lady and enjoys her fame in
Mohsin Hamid’s How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia in the the society. Her bold nature is illustrated as, when she kisses
light of the theory of Deconstruction. A textual you on the cheek in plain view of all of these hundreds of people…
deconstructive analysis is done to draw out the desired [9]. She is also addicted to smoking and drinking wine.
results out of this research. Both the protagonist and pretty girl have enjoyed sexual
3.3 Data Sources intercourse many times without having any fear. Her bold
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid is nature becomes ambiguous for us when after having
used as the primary source of data for this study. Moreover enjoyed sexual relation with the boy in a hotel, she forbids
for the analysis of the novel, some terms of the him to stay there as Hamid narrates, She does not let you
deconstruction approach such as logo centrism, differance, spend the night, however [9]. So here, her attitude becomes
and the concept of binary oppositions are included in this uncertain because at one side she is meeting, kissing,
research. drinking and enjoying illicit relation with him but on the
4 Data Analysis other side she is not ready to allow him for staying at night
The data analysis is carried out by applying specific with her.
concepts of Deconstruction theory such as logo centrism, Furthermore, uncertainty of her characterization is
differance and binary opposition. The present study will revealed when sometimes she becomes so passionate for
find out the traces of Derrida’s deconstructive theory in the protagonist that she takes his mobile number for further
Hamid’s novel, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia which communication. There are many instances in the novel
will uncover the fact that it has no fixed meanings. when she is not responding to any message and call of the
4.1 The Idea of Differance in the Novel boy. From deconstruction perspective, the characterization
According to differance theory, a text has no originality and of pretty girl has no fixed centricity and the interpretation
centricity. The significance of a literary work neither lies for can be done from more than one perspectives. Her
author’s purpose nor for its concern for finding truth. The uncertain qualities lead us to dig out several meanings.
idea of difference will help to find out uncertainty of 4.1.1.2 Uncertain Characterization of the Wife
human nature in this novel. According to Derrida's view, the meaning of a
4.1.1 Uncertainty of Characterization word is not stable, certain, and unitary, and its meaning
comes from the relationship with other words, likewise the
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character of the wife of the protagonist is also unstable, 4.1.1.3 Uncertainty of the Self-Help Book
abstruse and its significance comes from its connection with Mohsin Hamid’s novel, How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia,
the other characters which are themselves unstable and consists of twelve chapters in the disguise of a self-help
uncertain and thus the whole phenomena results in a state book. He writes this novel as a guide for its readers for
of undecided nature of the characters. improving the financial status from poverty to wealth,
The protagonist’s wife is also another nameless through a step by step process. Hamid asserts its aim in the
character in the novel which is helpful for revealing first chapter, Move to the City, This book is a self-help book. Its
uncertainty of her characterization. She is less than half of objective, as it says on the cover, is to show you how to get filthy
her husband’s age but depicted as a strong woman from the rich in rising Asia [9]. For becoming rich, it is necessary to
very beginning of their marital life. She proposes two move to a city for getting more opportunities and as a
conditions before marrying him …first that she be allowed to result the protagonist shifts there with his family. In the
complete her university, a lengthy course in law, and second that second chapter, Get an Education, Hamid writes, Textbooks,
she not be tasked with producing any children while studying [9]. those whores, are particularly explicit in acknowledging… [9]
At the same time, she is presented as a caring wife as well that they offer self help to the readers. Here, ambiguity is
when the protagonist is disturbed due to rivalry in his found that at one time the book is providing guidance and
bottled water business. She desires to be a comfort [9] for her on the other moment book is called a whore. It is degrading
husband in each and every possible way as a wife can. It is for calling any book a whore but from deconstructive point
also asserted in the novel that sometime her mind is of view, the author has, consciously or unconsciously,
distracted towards other male students in the university hinted about the so called better and self helping education
due to her own desire sometimes to respond [9] but she system of his country. There are more and more degree
shudders this idea of responding and believes that it will holders with no satisfactory jobs as depicted through

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impure her marriage. protagonist in the novel. He is a brilliant student but
Despite all this, she decides to leave him and punished by his teacher for answering correctly.
remarries another man who is similar to her outlook and The third chapter, Don’t Fall in Love, again is an
age. Such unexpected action from her side shows no uncertain title in this novel, which is forbidding the readers
centricity of her character. At one time, she is portraying from falling in love but within itself contains a love story.
herself as a true wife but at another moment she spares him Hamid asserts that it is worrisome for a person to love
when he is in vicious circle of difficulties regarding someone when he is trying to become rich but at the same
business and health. When the protagonist gets a heart time presenting his protagonist as a lover of the pretty girl
attack and is hospitalized, there he finds his ex-wife, along whom he loves till the end of his life. The 10th chapter,
with her new husband, [9] for showing her generosity. Dance with Debt, is a further illustration of uncertainty in
Furthermore, Hamid asserts, She returns to the hospitable each the novel. Basically, dance is an activity which is carried out
day, usually minus her husband…Under her supervision, second in a moment of happiness and joy but the incidents
and third opinions are sought, a new cardiologist identified… [9]. depicted in this chapter are totally contradictory to the title,
So, the wife’s character becomes uncertain due to such as, Your parents have died, your surviving sister and
her ambiguous characterization. Someone may interpret brother survive no longer, your wife has left you and married a
that her husband is not paying much attention to her which man…your son has chosen not to return after studying in North
becomes the reason of her separation. Again she is America… [9]. Furthermore,…your second heart attack takes
responsible for such behavior because it is she who does place in ICU… and his company is consequently bankrupt [9],
not allow her husband to establish any kind of conjugal so he is not a happy person who is enjoying a prosperous
relation as she wants to get herself educated. Furthermore, life but the word dance is self contradictory in relation to its
she also does not want to have any responsibility of baby in description.
order to live her life freely. Again, she is portrayed as a true In the 11th chapter, Focus on the Fundamentals, there
human being when she informs him that her brother, whom appears the most uncertain notion about this self-help book
she now wishes had never been born, has absconded abroad with that it cannot provide any guidance. Hamid asserts, I should
the funds your company raised for its planned acquisition…[9]. consider at this stage confessing to certain false pretenses…this
So, the wife’s character also displays such kind of book is going to maintain a little longer its innocence or at least
uncertainty that one cannot affirm if she had the only good the non justiciability of its guilt… [9]. From the first chapter to
side or the evil one. The significance of her character is the 9th one, this novel possesses the form of a self-help book
constantly deferred through her own evasive thoughts and but suddenly it asserts that it is unable to provide any
actions which tend to serve as the play of signifiers in the further guidance to its readers. Hamid apologizes in the
language of the text and thus the meaning or the certainty last chapter, Have an Exit Strategy, for not making this novel
which is to be attained in her character, is never attained. a real self-help book, This book, I must now concede, may not
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have been the very best of guides to getting filthy rich in rising shelter as these stereotyped ideas are always associated
Asia [9]. Thus the tool of ‘differance’ when applied to the with such figure. Now, from deconstructive point of view,
uncertain description of the self-help book, it is revealed the reverse of these binary oppositions reveals another
that it sets out to show that the conflicting ideas within the interpretation. As the time passes, the protagonist is
text and the given titles of these chapters serve to exposed to the world of power and wealth. His father is left
disintegrate the seeming certainty of the structure of the alone after his mother’s death and his health is also
text and its meaning into an indefinite array of becoming weak day by day. Now the power shifts from
incompatible and undecided possibilities. father to son as described in the novel when the protagonist
So, it is revealed that the text of the novel is is telling about his family to the pretty girl, I live with my
uncertain in nature, where the characters of the play fall father. Well, he lives with me. But I have my own place now [9].
into the area of Differance, modifying their character from There would be no weak if there is no strong so here the
one type to another and the process is continued until they son is asserting his power by telling his father’s fragile
find a certain meaning for their fluctuating signifier such as condition.
their identity. We just face the free play of signifiers, as Furthermore, the protagonist’s mother and
Derrida considers, which are always moving and so do the grandmother are also the representatives of strong vs weak
characters of this novel as well which are unstable and opposition. The presence of one is the result of the absence
undefined from one side. of the other so both women try to be strong whenever they
4.2 Binary Oppositions in How to Get Filthy Rich in find the opportunity. In the presence of grandmother,
Rising Asia mother becomes weak and performs all the chores as per
Binary opposition is basically a concept of structuralism the directions of her mother in law. Though the mother is
that concedes an individual’s propensity in regards to described as vain and arrogant and head strong but she cannot

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opposition. For Saussure, binary opposition is a means of assert her power in the presence of her mother in law. Now,
establishing meaning of the language in which each unit is by taking reverse of this opposition, it is expressed in the
determined against what is not. While Derrida suggests novel that the mother waits for the older woman to die [9]. She
that these are irrelevant oppositions. The structure itself wishes so because she wants to be the only authority in the
moves towards the conflicts and consequently the structure house. Her dream comes true when she and her family
of a text shatters within the text. Deconstruction is against leave the village and move to the city and there she is the
the ideology of structuralism. In Hamid’s novel, How to Get only strong woman in the house, establishing her power.
Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, there are many pairs of binary 4.2.2 Gain vs Loss
opposition such as strong and weak, gain and loss, There are many examples of gain vs loss binary opposition
subordinate and independent and life and death. It is the in the novel as it is a fact that the loss of something for
confrontation to such contradictions that reveals the someone is a gain for another person. The novel is all about
limitation of human minds and its disconnection with the the struggle of boy for becoming rich in Asia through
world. The two poles in binary opposition exist for each bottled water business. He starts earning by delivering
other’s existence, which forms an intense tension, thus DVDs as a junior delivery boy with low income and a
ambiguity and paradox come into being. bicycle for delivery. On the other hand, there is also a
4.2.1 Strong vs Weak senior delivery boy with high income and motorcycle for
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia deals with the binary delivery. So, the senior is gaining much more than the
opposition of strong vs weak very aptly, as this novel is protagonist, This man’s salary is twice yours and his tips
about becoming rich and wealth brings power as well. The several times greater, for although your work is more strenuous
protagonist tries to become rich and gets his aim but [9]. Furthermore, the senior is also enjoying a good rank as
unfortunately loses all his wealth. When he was a child, he compared to him. Here, Hamid has presented the
was weak and dependent on his father, who was a cook, for protagonist as a person who is unable to achieve a high
the accomplishment of his needs. Even he is presented as a rank in job and no satisfactory salary despite more labor as
fragile boy who is terrified of his father’s presence in the a result it seems that he is not gaining as much as he is
house and unable to communicate with him properly. For losing. By deconstructing this hierarchy, there appears
instance, in his childhood, he is suffering from Hepatitis E another interpretation which asserts that the junior is
and his father asks about his health before going to gaining more as compared to his senior. Hamid
city…perhaps the first sentence he has uttered to you directly in writes…and because of this you have developed speed as well as
months. You are in pain and frightened. So the answer is stamina. You have been exposed to a wide range of people… [9].
obviously no. Yet you say, Yes [9]. All this happens due to his Though he is not prosperous financially but physically and
father’s strong personality and the protagonist’s weak mentally he is enjoying his life. He is also free from paying
personality. A father also symbolizes protection, power and installments to the moneylender for providing conveyance,
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while his senior has to pay it as he is using motorcycle. The prosperous business and he encounters a rival. That rival is
meanings associated with these oppositions are not certain another successful businessman who is trying to threaten
as they are interdependent on each other. him with the help of a gunman, a young boy. For the sake
Another example of such binary opposition is of his safety, he arranges a guard who is always present
illustrated through the incidents of protagonist’s downfall. with him. So, he is the boss and independent while the
There comes a time in his life when he is left alone, his wife security guard is his subordinate employee. This scenario is
has left him and remarries, his son has gone to America for changed with deconstructive reading when the gunman of
studies, his business collapsed and he receives two heart the rival party again appears on the scene. He is ready to
attacks. His loss is the gain for many other characters in the shoot the protagonist but his guard protects him and
novel such as by leaving him his wife finds another man, murders the gunman. By seeing the death scene, the
his son gets higher education and moves ahead for better protagonist becomes uneasy and unable to respond as an
future and his brother in law gets prosperity from his independent human being. Hamid describes his
business funds. From the lens of deconstruction, the subordinate condition, Reoccupying his seat, he tells you to
reversal of this opposition will establish another meaning. drive, and when you do not seem to understand, he repeats
The protagonist’s loss also brings many achievements in his himself, and you quickly obey [9]. This statement asserts that
life when he regains his senses after heart attack; he finds now the guard has occupied an independent position and
all his scattered relations such as your nephews are leading him for further action while the boss is obeying him
here…your ex-wife. He also feels relaxed at losing his without any question and doubt.
business because of the rising tide of frustration among poor In addition to subordinate vs independent binary
against the rich. The biggest achievement is the company of opposition, the protagonist and pretty girl are presented as
pretty girl whom he finds after losing all his wealth and independent characters who achieve their goals of

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relationships. Both remain with each other till the end of becoming wealthy persons. He becomes a successful
their lives. While living with her, he also receives the love businessman and has good relations with bureaucrats,
and care of his son, after his return, you are surprised to hear politicians and brigadier. On the other hand, the pretty girl
the bell ring and find yourself in the presence of your son [9]. is also spending a luxurious life by becoming a model,
They all enjoy his cooking and movies which he brings at hosting a cooking show and later running her own
home and they also go outside for entertainment. It can be boutique. By reversing their positions, the subordinate
said here that his loss of wealth and health does not really conditions can also be observed in the story. Both are too
prove as a loss but in reality it proves as an achievement for much dependent on their assistants for running their
him. business and a time comes when they have to resign from
4.2.3 Subordinate vs Independent their positions due to the absence of their assistants. In her
For shaping the life of pretty girl, the role of his father is case, when her assistant dies who was running her
really significant though the description of his character is boutique, pretty girl decides to wind up her business, She
very little in the novel. It is he who forces her to go outside must also sell her shop and conclude certain matters [9]. She
for earning and as a result she is exposed to the male becomes subordinate to her assistant that despite hiring
dominated society, where everyone uses her for his own another person for running her boutique, she sells it. On the
sake. She loses her virginity when she is a teenage girl and other hand, the protagonist has become a subordinate
works in a beauty salon. So, she becomes an independent character for his brother-in-law, who is assisting him in the
girl who supports her family and also saves money to make business. He has awarded him with the ranks of deputy
her future bright. Her father is dependent on women for and chief officer but he deceives him and runs away with
money as Hamid asserts, Her father, a notorious drunk and all the funds for maintaining the business.
gambler rarely sighted during the day, sends his wife and 4.2.4 Life vs Death
daughter to earn back… [9]. After describing him as a In this novel, life vs death opposition can be
dependent character, Hamid further depicts him as an demonstrated through the characters of pretty girl and the
independent human being who does whatever he wishes to protagonist. Both are unable to enjoy a healthy marital
do such as, He seizes what money he can from his wife and relation despite loving each other and only enjoy meetings
daughter and heads out to the bar… [9]. Despite his at different places. When they are alive, their healthy
dependence, he remains independent and this thing leads relation remains dead as they are not connected in any legal
her mother to perpetual muteness. Her role as an bond. They are only able to enjoy an illicit relationship and
independent person shifts towards a subordinate character do not think of having a prosperous life. By reversing this
that is ready to surrender before the will of her father. life vs death phenomena, there can be found another
There is another instance of such binary opposition interpretation that is they both find life after their death. It
in the novel when the protagonist is moving towards a is only their death, which liberate them from all the
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shackles of life and lead them towards their desired life. show that the text does not contain complete and certain
Pretty girl dies before him and now he is at the verge of meanings, instead it is a structure of symbols and signs
death in the hospital, but then the pretty girl enters…she takes which are proposed to establish meanings but none of them
your hand, and you ready yourself to die…and you are ready, set precise meaning. Derrida’s concept of differance focuses
ready to die well…and the pretty girl holds your hand, and you on the uncertainty of the text in order to liberate it from
contain her [9]. Here, the protagonist’s willingness to die is traditional binary opposition and western logo-centralism.
in fact his desire to live with his beloved. His all worldly Thus, the meaning of the text has different interpretations
relations are present around him in the hospital but he is in different contexts, situations and circumstance. By
only thinking of pretty girl and ready to enter in the deconstructing the binary oppositions, the privileged term
kingdom of life, in the disguise of death. is reversed and it is revealed that these binaries are
To sum up, the binary opposition between dependent on each other. To explore that the text of the
presence and absence is actually comparative. They depend novel is free play of signs and it contradicts itself in many
on each other and change into each other in particular ways such as in the uncertainty of characterization of the
circumstances. They coexist in a relationship that one can’t major figures in the novel, uncertainty of the self-help book
exist independently without the other one, thus obtaining and to identify binary oppositions such as life vs death,
either party’s own definition. independent vs subordinate, strong vs weak in the selected
5 Conclusion work and analyze that the oppositions are hierarchical,
The present study examines How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising unstable and mutually dependent on one another.
Asia from the lens of deconstruction theory. It tends to

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International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research Volume 9, Issue 8, Augsut-2018 761
ISSN 2229-5518
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Authors’ Profiles

First Author

Rubab Laila received her M.A and M.Phil degrees in English

Literature from University Of Gujrat and University of Lahore in
2014 and 2018 respectively. From 2015-2016, she worked as College
Teaching Intern (English) in Govt. College for Women Sarai
Alamgir( Pakistan). She is now working in University Of Gujrat as
Associate Lecturer of English.

Second Author

Iqra Rasheed received her M.Sc and M.Phil degrees in Economics

from University Of Gujrat and PMAS University of Arid Agriculture

IJSER
Rawalpindi in 2013 and 2017 respectively. She worked as College
Teaching Intern (Economics) in Govt. College for Women Sarai
Alamgir (Pakistan) from 2014-2016. Now she is associated with
Saint Francis Degree College for Women (Sarai Alamgir) as lecturer
of Economics.

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