For Whom Does Hope Hop: A Fetishized Reading of M G Vassanji’s The Assassin’s Song

Abstract

The attribution of magical or holy properties to objects is inherent in religious consciousness. Treating fetishes as “unreal” overlooks the importance of the object as a mediator of social value. Fetishism suggests switching the religious connection between God and people onto the connection between people and religious material symbols. Objectified religious beliefs result in fetishizing sacred spaces, be it a shrine or a temple. As commodification is the order of the day, the “thingness of the objectified” must be enhanced by “refetishising.” Such an attempt to “fetishize the fetish” is seen in M G Vassanji’s The Assassin’s Song. It is actually the exposure of the secret of the eternal flame that makes Karsan finally doubt the idea of spiritual powers and shakes his faith in the high mysteries of Pirbaag. At this moment his Bapuji happens to be preaching how all is a lie, a maya. He explains to Karsan how the eternal flame keeps hope alive. People seem to lose their way without miracles and need a little help. The objectification of hope in the eternal flame is made problematic when the perpetual is put under scanner thereby shattering the diffused sense of sacred in an object.

Keywords:

• Hope
• fetish
• refetishising
• materiality
• commodification

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Smithi Mohan

Smithi Mohan J. S is an Assistant Professor, Department of English, Government College, Tripunithura, Kerala, India.