SEMANTIC DEVIATION IN TARIQ RAHMAN'S EID SHOPPING: A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF CONSUMERISM AND DISILLUSIONMENT

Abstract

Tariq Rahman's short story Eid Shopping (1988) utilizes linguistic deviations to deliver a profound socio-political critique, exploring themes of consumerism, emotional disillusionment, social stratification, and identity. Through the deliberate attempt to ride against the norms of linguistic conventions, Rahman reveals the hypocrisy of a materialistic society. To deplore the commodification of traditional culture, especially the Eid celebration, Rahman employs methods such as irony, wordplay, metaphors, and even sensory deviations. Through the element of semantic deviation employed by Rahman, this paper provides an analysis of how this aspect of writing prompts the reader to consider the emotional and social ramifications of consumerism, where a discrepancy exists between societal expectations and self-reality. Based on foregrounding theory, this paper examines how linguistic tools portray the emotional torment of the characters and their relationship with consumer culture. The article claims that the strategic orchestration of language by Rahman not only defies the rules of holiday celebrations but also comments on the emotional emptiness caused by social dictates, giving an interesting run on the very price of living in a consumer society. This analysis contributes to the broader theoretical understanding of how language can serve as a powerful means of socio-political commentary and emotional appeal in contemporary literature.