The Critical Discourse Analysis of Power Dynamics and Hidden Ideologies in Mohsin Hamid’s Novel “MOTH SMOKE”

The magnum opus novel "Moth Smoke" by Mohsin Hamid features a compelling and thought-provoking narrative. It captivates readers with its unreserved honesty and accurate portrayal of the human condition. Hamid creates a world that is both familiar and strange, transporting readers into the lives of individuals battling with love, power, and morality. The purpose of this research is to investigate the novel's text to uncover societal depictions and hidden ideologies that run throughout the story. Using passages from the novel as examples, the research aims to highlight how language simultaneously maintains and challenges established gender standards, giving insights into the complexities of gender representation in literature. This study looks at gender roles, language usage, and identity crises to see how linguistic choices support or contradict existing narrative norms. Furthermore, by evaluating how characters use language to subvert society norms, the study shows the novel's multidimensional gender portrayal. This study took a rigorous qualitative approach, collecting data through attentive reading and in-depth examination of the text. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as a lens, the study investigates the characters' identity crises, stressing the psychological hurdles that people face when balancing their own goals and societal expectations. The analysis is theoretically supported by Norman Fairclough's Three-Dimensional Framework, which highlights CDA's relational, dialectical, and transdisciplinary nature. Daru's journey and Mumtaz's struggles give important insights into the battle between conformity and self-discovery in a rapidly changing world. Themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the quest for authenticity run throughout the novel, stressing the clash between conformity and self-expression. Through meticulous analysis of the work, this study demonstrates how the literary classic skillfully ties together traditional themes, societal change, and human experience. The novelist's wonderful writing transports readers to the unforgettable city of Lahore, where the complexities of society are shown in all their intriguing details.