Comprehending the risk throughout a literary-geocritical approach. Rushdie's <i>The</i> <i>Satanic Verses</i> as evidence and an opportunity in investigating risk scenarios

Matteo Bona; Matteo Bona

doi:10.3934/geosci.2024022

AIMS Geosciences

2024, Volume 10, Issue 2: 419-435. doi: 10.3934/geosci.2024022

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Comprehending the risk throughout a literary-geocritical approach. Rushdie's The Satanic Verses as evidence and an opportunity in investigating risk scenarios

Matteo Bona ^,

Department of Modern Languages, University of Turin, Via Sant'Ottavio, 20, Turin, TO 10124, Italy

Received: 12 April 2024 Revised: 25 April 2024 Accepted: 28 April 2024 Published: 22 May 2024

This paper aimed to demonstrate the correlation, a hidden, intricate, interplay, between the conception of risk and the fluid nature of society during the eras of migratory relocations as portrayed in Salman Rushdie's literary masterpiece, The Satanic Verses. The general premise found in this paper was that risk is based on the following logical axiom: Risk is mathematically unpredictable, something that goes beyond the human capability of discernment or probabilistic prevision. This blank space that separates reality from its potentiality is the risk. Thus, in migratory relocation, the risk consists of the unknowability of what could happen the second after having passed a line. It is the border of what is known. Rushdie's work offers profound insights into the ways in which individuals navigate the turbulent waters of a rapidly changing world, where cultural, social, and political paradigms constantly shift. In the first part of this work, we will present the main topics related to risk. Rushdie's work underlines the central role that storytelling and narrative play in navigating the complexities of a fluid society. The characters in Rushdie's novel employ storytelling as a means of understanding and asserting their own identities, thereby confronting the inherent risk of being silenced or marginalized in a world dominated by shifting power dynamics. In conclusion, Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses provides a rich tapestry of narratives that not only explore the conception of risk in a fluid society but also challenge readers to contemplate the intricate interplay of identity, culture, and faith in an ever-changing world. This works serve as a testament to the power of literature to engage with contemporary issues, transcending boundaries, and sparking critical conversations. Through his vivid characters and daring narratives, Rushdie invites readers to grapple with the aims and main issues of our time: the quest for self-identity, the inevitability of risk, and the enduring need for storytelling as a means of understanding and shaping our rapidly evolving society.
- Salman Rushdie,
- geocriticism,
- risk,
- fluid society,
- humanistic geography
Citation: Matteo Bona. Comprehending the risk throughout a literary-geocritical approach. Rushdie's The Satanic Verses as evidence and an opportunity in investigating risk scenarios[J]. AIMS Geosciences, 2024, 10(2): 419-435. doi: 10.3934/geosci.2024022

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Abstract

This paper aimed to demonstrate the correlation, a hidden, intricate, interplay, between the conception of risk and the fluid nature of society during the eras of migratory relocations as portrayed in Salman Rushdie's literary masterpiece, The Satanic Verses. The general premise found in this paper was that risk is based on the following logical axiom: Risk is mathematically unpredictable, something that goes beyond the human capability of discernment or probabilistic prevision. This blank space that separates reality from its potentiality is the risk. Thus, in migratory relocation, the risk consists of the unknowability of what could happen the second after having passed a line. It is the border of what is known. Rushdie's work offers profound insights into the ways in which individuals navigate the turbulent waters of a rapidly changing world, where cultural, social, and political paradigms constantly shift. In the first part of this work, we will present the main topics related to risk. Rushdie's work underlines the central role that storytelling and narrative play in navigating the complexities of a fluid society. The characters in Rushdie's novel employ storytelling as a means of understanding and asserting their own identities, thereby confronting the inherent risk of being silenced or marginalized in a world dominated by shifting power dynamics. In conclusion, Salman Rushdie's The Satanic Verses provides a rich tapestry of narratives that not only explore the conception of risk in a fluid society but also challenge readers to contemplate the intricate interplay of identity, culture, and faith in an ever-changing world. This works serve as a testament to the power of literature to engage with contemporary issues, transcending boundaries, and sparking critical conversations. Through his vivid characters and daring narratives, Rushdie invites readers to grapple with the aims and main issues of our time: the quest for self-identity, the inevitability of risk, and the enduring need for storytelling as a means of understanding and shaping our rapidly evolving society.

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