'This is Where the Serpent Lives' is a sprawling debut novel set in modern Pakistan
In this episode of NPR's Book of the Day, author Daniyal Mueenuddin discusses his debut novel, which explores modern Pakistani society through multiple characters and storylines. The narrative follows Bayezid, a street-smart boy from Rawalpindi with a mysterious past, while examining Pakistan's feudal system and the complex power dynamics between landowners and their communities.
The discussion delves into how Mueenuddin's personal experiences shape his storytelling, including his return to Pakistan to manage his family farm and his decade-long attempt to write about his mother's suicide. Through his work, Mueenuddin draws parallels between class divisions in Pakistani and American societies, offering insights into how wealth, power, and social relationships intersect in contemporary Pakistan.
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1-Page Summary
Character Development: Bayezid
Bayezid's character emerges from the harsh streets of Rawalpindi, embodying resilience and strategic thinking born of necessity. Found as a young boy with only a pair of cheap plastic shoes and no memory of his past, Bayezid's story begins at Karim Khan's tea stall. There, he receives his first informal education in the complexities of life. His survival instincts manifest early—in one notable instance, he deliberately stabbed himself to deter wealthy bullies, demonstrating his capacity for calculated self-preservation.
Themes of Class, Power, and Social Dynamics in Pakistan
Daniyal Mueenuddin explores Pakistan's feudal system, where landowners like Hisham maintain significant societal influence beyond their financial power. These landowners participate intimately in their communities' lives, from marriages to funerals, creating quasi-familial bonds. Mueenuddin examines the complex partnership between Hisham and Shanaaz, where their marriage evolves into a business alliance with Shanaaz exercising substantial behind-the-scenes influence—a common dynamic in Pakistani society. The novel serves as what Mueenuddin calls a "distorting mirror," reflecting class divides and inequalities that parallel American society.
Mueenuddin's Influences on the Novel
Mueenuddin's personal experiences deeply inform his writing. Like his character Rustam, he returned to Pakistan after college to manage his family farm, despite feeling unprepared after years abroad. He speaks of a challenging decade-long attempt to write about his mother's suicide, ultimately abandoning the 600-page manuscript due to emotional barriers. Looking ahead, Mueenuddin plans to channel his reflections on his mother's life into a new Pakistani love story, incorporating his thoughtful contemplation of her character and experiences.
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Actionables
- You can foster resilience by volunteering in challenging environments, such as shelters or community centers, to gain perspective and develop strategic thinking similar to Bayezid's experiences. By facing real-world issues and helping those in need, you'll encounter situations that require quick thinking and adaptability, strengthening your own resilience.
- Start a journal to document your daily experiences and reflect on life's complexities, akin to Bayezid's informal education at the tea stall. Writing about your interactions, thoughts, and feelings can provide insights into your own life and the lives of those around you, enhancing your understanding of human nature and societal dynamics.
- Create a book club focused on literature that explores social systems and class divides, like Mueenuddin's work, to discuss and better understand these issues in a global context. By reading and discussing books that delve into different societal structures, you can broaden your perspective and engage in meaningful conversations about inequality and its impact on communities.
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Character Development: Bayezid
Bayezid is a character crafted from hardship, mystery, and the unforgiving streets of Rawalpindi. His story illustrates how strength and cunning emerge from necessity, and how life's informal lessons shape a person's path.
Bayezid's Mysterious Origins and Upbringing
Bayezid’s beginnings are shrouded in ambiguity.
Bayezid: Orphan Boy Found With Shoes and No Memory
Bayezid's earliest memory lacks clarity, rooted more in a whirlwind of sensations and anonymous crowds than in the comforting specificity of family or home. The later revelation that he might have been deliberately abandoned only complicates the narrative of his origins. Having been found alone, with only a pair of new but cheap plastic shoes, Bayezid's life is a question mark that starts on the streets of Rawalpindi.
Bayezid's Strength, Resilience, and Strategic Thinking
The adversities of his upbringing did not break Bayezid; they forged him.
Bayezid's Self-Stabbing to Avoid Retaliation From Wealthier Bullies
Bayezid exhibits extreme measures of resilience and strategic acumen early in life. To deflect aggression from bullies wealthier and more influential than himself, he once stabbed himself in the leg. This act of self-violence demonstrated to his adversaries that Bayezid was capable of controlled ferocity, deterring further conflict and safeguarding him from the drastic repercussions he might face due to his lower social standing.
Baye ...
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Character Development: Bayezid
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can foster resilience by voluntarily engaging in challenging activities that push you out of your comfort zone. Start with something small, like a cold shower each morning or a public speaking class, to gradually build your tolerance for discomfort and develop the kind of resilience Bayezid had.
- Enhance your strategic thinking by playing games that require planning and foresight, such as chess or strategy-based video games. These games can simulate the complex decision-making processes that Bayezid might have used in his interactions and can be a fun way to sharpen your mind.
- Broaden your understanding of life's com ...
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Themes of Class, Power, and Social Dynamics in Pakistan: The Feudal System and Hisham-Shanaaz Relationship
Daniyal Mueenuddin's work sheds light on the complexities of class, power, and social dynamics in Pakistani society, focusing on the interwoven lives of feudal landowners and their partners.
Feudal System in Pakistan and Landowners' Influence Like Hisham
In Pakistan, a significant portion of society operates within a feudal system, which Mueenuddin identifies as one of the world's remaining bastions of feudalism. Landowners like Hisham hold hereditary landholdings and have immense societal influence that transcends mere financial affairs. These landowners assume leadership roles within large communities, entailing responsibilities that go further than paying wages. Hisham's duties involve an intimate participation in significant life events from marriages to funerals, fostering a relationship with those on his land that resembles familial bonds.
Partnership and Power Dynamics Between Hisham and Shanaaz
Hisham and Shanaaz's Marriage Evolves Into a Romantic and Business Partnership, With Shanaaz Wielding Power Behind the Scenes
Mueenuddin delves into the evolving relationship between Hisham and Shanaaz, which blossoms from a romantic connection into a strategic business partnership. Although Hisham operates as the visible leader, Shanaaz is acknowledged as the intellectual force of their enterprise. This type of partnership, where women exercise significant influence through their husbands, is a prevalent feature of Pakistani social dynamics.
Contrasts Between Wealthy Elite and Poor In Pakistan
Novel as a "Distorting Mirror" ...
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Themes of Class, Power, and Social Dynamics in Pakistan: The Feudal System and Hisham-Shanaaz Relationship
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Explore the dynamics of power and class in your community by volunteering at a local non-profit organization that works with diverse socioeconomic groups. By interacting with people from various backgrounds, you'll gain firsthand insight into the social structures and power dynamics that shape your local area, similar to the way the novel explores these themes in a Pakistani context.
- Start a book club focused on international literature that delves into class and power dynamics, like the one discussed in the podcast. This will encourage discussions and reflections on how these themes play out in different cultures, and members can draw parallels to their own society's structures, fostering a deeper understanding of global and local social issues.
- Engage in a perso ...
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Mueenuddin's Influences on the Novel
Daniyal Mueenuddin, a writer whose life experiences closely inform his narratives, discusses how his background and personal history act as a canvas for his literary work.
Mueenuddin's Return to Pakistan After College, Like Rustam
Mueenuddin shares a striking parallel between himself and a character named Rustam from one of his projects. Both Mueenuddin and Rustam have the shared experience of returning to Pakistan to run the family farm after having been educated abroad. Mueenuddin went back to Pakistan after completing college, taking on the formidable task of managing the family farm, a role for which his time away from home since the age of 13 had left him unprepared.
Mueenuddin's Aborted Novel About His Mother's Death
Mueenuddin faced a profound challenge when attempting to write a novel about his mother's suicide and the subsequent trauma it caused him. Despite dedicating a decade to this project and authoring over 600 pages, Mueenuddin struggled with the level of honesty such a narrative demanded. The emotional and creative blocks proved insurmountable, leading him to ultimately abandon the emotionally charged manuscript, leaving i ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Mueenuddin's Influences on the Novel
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Explore your personal history by starting a journal where you reflect on past experiences and how they've shaped you, much like an author might draw from their life for literary inspiration. Begin with simple prompts about your childhood, pivotal life events, or family dynamics, and consider how these elements could be woven into creative projects or personal growth plans.
- Tackle a challenging task you've been avoiding by breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps, similar to how someone might approach taking over a complex responsibility like a family farm. Identify the task, list the skills or knowledge you need to accomplish it, and set short-term goals to build your confidence and competence in that area.
- Address ...
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