I feel like the text that we have been reading in class talks about how sex was flagged so taboo that these fancy balls (sex parties) happened; where I am sure somebody got to play with somebody’s balls. I am starting to read in his text that everybody is basically horny and thinking about sex but are expected to act a certain way because they are rich yet rich people are having trophy husbands and wives. The only reason Abu is getting any reaction from these European women is that they see him as part of royalty. I am guessing that in Europe, it was not common for somebody to be a person of color yet have money like in the middle east. Let alone have sex with somebody of that class, since money is tied to class standing. , “ … each of the Englishman of rank had a particular lady whom he visited without any interruption” (84). Then I started to look at the entire English government as a whole because, we cannot he is not be influenced by being around who obviously care more about women, in more ways than one, than their job. Its funny how the English are making so many rules to prohibit the freedoms of women like if they are ravenous animals “… secondly, the women never visit any bachelor, except he be a near relation” (p 173). This gives me adam and even vibes, where Eve was blamed for Adams’s mistake of eating the apple. He blamed her for his mistakes. It also seems like he is saying men blame women for why they are horny, they are antagonizers, men are the victims “The English…have wisely determined, that the best mode of keeping women out of the way of temptation, and their minds from wandering after improper desires, is by giving them sufficient employment.” (p 171). I feel like the women who surrounded these politicians benefited from their playtime because then they would be exempt from following guidelines like marriage and stuff.
Category: Sex and the City (11/22)
Diving further into Abu Taleb’s letters, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit suspicious on how he describes the way European women act around him in opposition with what happens in reality.
Abu Taleb for me, he isn’t the most reliable of narrators. I feel as though his recollections and what he says shouldn’t always be held to truth and that there might be little fluff that he adds to his narrations to paint himself in a more preferable light. Regarding this, when he speaks of the English women seemingly flirting with him and he turns away to keep his modesty, I feel as though he points their actions out to flatter himself and describes his own actions to portray modesty. It’s almost as if he is telling us a crazy, out of this world story and we as the readers are meant to sit there smiling and nodding and act like we believe him as he exclaims how he slayed a dragon. Using a similar analogy, though relating it to Abu Taleb, describes how these European women “threw such significant looks towards me, that I was often put to the blush, and obliged to retire to the other side of the room” (Abu Taleb 85), I feel I am being told by this unreliable narrator about how he apparently garners the attention of these wealthy, attractive, upper-class British women and am expected to just believe him. Surely he doesn’t expect us to believe this to be the truth? It seems this far into his letters that almost every room he walks in he suddenly becomes the center of attention of the most beautiful women all over Europe.
Referencing Abu Taleb’s innate ability to get women all over him whenever he walks in Europe seemed like a farce, though there was one passage that stood out to me that was pointed out by another classmate. Letter XI, which contains a lot of Abu Taleb’s material visits to many public institutions of London (majority of these he is invited to by upper class English Women), I noticed throughout his entire tour of the city he is being indulged by these wealthy aristocratic people everywhere. He is invited to an opera house, makes appearances at various coffee houses, rubs shoulders with various philosophers at a few playhouses, amazing spectacles one would wish to see all of when visiting London in this timeframe, experiences one would never forget. How is Abu Taleb so virtuous that he is able to experience these wondrous things? It seems he is a man with a perfect life! Or at least we are made to think he is. It is questionable that this is the truth, maybe he is lying again or fluffing his story to make himself look better? It is a possibility, however one thing that Abu Taleb possesses when referring to his own experiences in London, in particular a certain Masquerade party that is Abu Taleb’s secret weapon has he recollects his experiences throughout his letters… descriptive, accurate details. He is able to describe this Masquerade with such coveted detail, the way the attendants dress, behave, the decoration of the event, the exchanges between the attendants and most importantly, the way he is viewed after “accidentally” revealing the identity of a fellow partygoer, in which case I don’t think he really ever takes notice the volume of his actions and how they are perceived by others, just that the situation was noticed and the subject of a lot of conversation the following day.
Paana Zamani
When I blogged about Abu Taleb Khan, I saw the misogyny that he spewed and how he thought very lowly of women. After we discussed in class as looking at perspective I can now clearly see that the fascination went both ways, from the European women actually being orientalist and Abu Taleb falling under the impression of being liked and idealized when in reality he is being fetishized, which is a completely different expression in tone and impression.
On page 85, Abu Taleb is talking about Dutch women, whom he considers as not ‘handsome’ but I find it weird, because he seems to have such a negative tone when talking about these women. He states, ‘A party of these girls once attacked me: one of them, who was the handsomest and most forward, snatched away my handkerchief, and offered it to another girl of her own age; upon which they all began to laugh aloud … lady did not seem inclined to accept the handkerchief, I withdrew it, and said I would only part with it to the handsomest’ (85). Although the women were teasing him and in a way clowning him, he broke his character of being high class and poised by insulting and showing his bruised ego; he only insulted these women because they rejected him and mocked him. These Dutch women portrayed orientalism by teasing an Persian man and taking his handkerchief, as a form of a joke or an advancement. While Abu Taleb, is attacking these women because they do not treat him the way the English women treat him. The English women were very infatuated with him, and did not tease him or make advancements towards him like the Dutch women did. He only insulted these women because they were not infatuated with him like all the other European women he came into contact with. They do not see him as an ideal and he is hurt by that. It hurt his ego, which prompted him to make a hasty remark as well as insult their looks; and he continued to insult Dutch people and uphold a negative connotation around the Dutch people. He shows his classist ideals when he only seems to like dutch people when they are high class, but this could be that he wants to retain good relations with wealthy aristocrats. Abu Taleb mentions several times that he was referred to as a ‘Persian Prince’, although he takes it as a sign of being considered higher class, the women may be using this name as a fetishization for him. The women may find his so intriguing that he is Prince and he is from the orient, that they fetishize him and that is why they lust over him. In conclusion, it seems that both the women and Abu Talib seem to fetishize each other, yet they both misinterpret the advances that are being made.
Elliot Ruvalcaba
Impression and reputation contribute to a person’s appearance, which people – specifically Europeans in this case – use to form judgments and establish a foundation for how they should regard the individual. As a foreigner from Lucknow, Abu Taleb is inheritably attached to the reputation of Indians by the Europeans during the period; who saw them as disrespectful, dishonorable, and greedy, as we’ve seen represented through Captain Williamson’s depiction of Indian travelers. He believed it was “impossible” for high-class women to “stoop” to having an affair with Abu Taleb. In his disbelief, he depicts Abu Taleb as so egotistical and entitled to upper-class European women, that his hubristic desire leads him to quickly fall for “low women” conning him. Captain Williamson aims to use Abu Taleb as an example that Indian men are simplistic and easily deceived by taking advantage of their primal desires, with no higher intelligent drive beyond that, unlike European men.
Abu Taleb, in turn, is meticulous in how he depicts himself. Even in his portraits, such as the one painted by James Northcote, he takes the consideration to portray himself as elegant to a European audience through his well-maintained seemingly-silk garb on a battlefield and intelligent through the inclusion of a book and pen. He is away that he is held to the stereotypes of Indian men in Europe therefore, his tactic to supersede their pre-conceived notions of him is to establish a dignified and powerful reputation that proceeds him. Since he cannot and/or will not detach himself from his cultural heritage, he also elevates the image of Indian people in his text.
An example of an instance where he does this is in the passage, “A party of these girls once attacked me: one of them, who was the most handsome and most forward, snatched away my handkerchief, and offered it to another girl of her own age; upon which they all began to laugh aloud: but as the young lady did not seem inclined to accept the handkerchief, I withdrew it, and said I would only part with it to the handsomest.” (pg. 85) he is showing to the reader that the women made the first move on him and when the handkerchief was passed to the girl who was not the most handsome, he pulled it back. He clarifies that this is in reference to the practices of rich Turks who “throw their handkerchief to the lady with whom they wish to pass the night.” Abu Taleb states earlier in the text that he views “All the European Dutch women “as “fat, gross, and insipid”. Therefore, he is showing that he has standards as isn’t going to have an affair with any woman just because she’s easily accessible.
Right after showing the reader that he is dignified in this manner, he states that “each of the Englishmen of rank” (pg.84) frequently has affairs with these Dutch women regardless of their appearance because they are driven by convenience. In this way, he is showing that not only is he more dignified than the impulsive, lust-driven Englishman, but by distinguishing the difference between them as their race regardless of rank, he accredits his chasity as being an Indian man.
Abu Taleb is objectifying these women and using them as accessories. However, no differently than European men do. In fact, he shows that he is better then British men at this since he only accessorizes himself with women he believes are of his caliber, which are upper-class and well-mannered women. This is to control his appearance through a European perspective and show that he is well-deserving of his nobility. Additionally it separates him and his race from the orientalist stereotypes perpetuated by Europeans such as Captain Williamson.
Rhiannon Badgett
In The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, the author of the self titled novel believes that the British patriarchy and aristocratic women both play key factors while living in Britain and serving there. While women are seen as status symbols, symbols for exchange, and even as affluent people during this time and within his work, it seems as though the fetishization of women and Abu Taleb is a two way street. While I previously mentioned in my last blog post that he eroticizes the Cape Town women yet disregards the Dutch women because of their looks, I failed to consider that he was perhaps being looked at in a similar fashion by these people too. As someone that doesn”t look like everyone else, knows different customs, and follows other ways of life, Abu Taleb is seen as a celebrity or even as what some called the novel, “The Persian Prince”. Taleb writes that he was visited by women who have a higher status than he does and maybe even many of the men that he knew at this time. He writes that he was “…visited by ladies of rank who had never in their lives before passed through the street” (122). I believe that these women would not have visited him in a scary or rundown part of town unless they really wanted to; proving that they have a desire to see him just as much as he’d like to see them. It could be that these women are even more fascinated by him than they can begin to admit.
By: Suki Kaur
Mirza Abu Taleb Khan seems like the next big thing in the city of Cape Town. Although he may not consider himself to be the star of the show, the people of the city surely view him as such. From traveling on the ship to landing a place to sleep, he seems to stand out than the rest. Every single move that he makes is being watched by the people that surround Abu Taleb in the European cities. Especially the cities that he visit, if the city was not so popular, the moment Abu Taleb would set foot in it, the city becomes the hotspot. Whatever was not pleasing to the eyes of Abu Taleb, he would criticize and talk bad about it. Such as the incident that took place at the first lodging inn which was hosted by Barnet (81-82). Then Mirza Abu Taleb Khan seems to do the same thing with judging the physical appearance of the Dutch women and labeling the Dutchmen as in-hospitable, rude, and low-minded. When judging the physical appearance of the Dutch women, it seems like Abu Taleb is categorizing what his dislikes and likes are in women, he is giving himself a mental note that warns him or reminds him of how the Dutch women are like and what he would prefer in women. Mirza Abu Taleb is making a mental picture of his ideal woman or women. (84) On the contrary, Sir/Captain Williamson is caught in a scandal with a female slave and is fined for behaving in such a conduct, he also apologizes to Abu Taleb for his mistakes. (86) Seems like a mature and good thing to do, but it is not considered to be a mature and good thing when Williamson portrays his jealousy and hatred towards the actions and the reactions that Abu Taleb does and receives, especially in regards to women. So far, Abu Taleb has been in the journey to make acquaintances, observations, and experiences for the East India Company, during his stay in the European cities, he marvels at things that he has never seen before such as the physical appearance of both Dutch women and the women at the Cape, according to his experiences he is recording what seems to be more like-able and worthy to be noted. There seems to be a conflict of perspectives, Abu Taleb is not what others think him to be and Taleb is who he knows to be.
Jocelyn Lemus
In The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, Abu Taleb Khan composes his accounts in a judgemental manner that pushes us away from depicting his admiration for Europe. Although he is not a European himself, he still acts upon their culture by praising it. This is so ironic because nowadays we see how people are prideful of where they come from. But for Khan, his main goal is to admire the research science and technology of the European culture, however, there is a huge note of him just criticizing the women there. He presents ideas about women, some of which still are brought back within society. He chooses to emphasize the presence of women as “require costly presents” (84). Khan grasps the same ideas as Ingres’ that women are only objects that only acquire sexual attention. They are seen as so worthless that they have no say even if they have the ability to speak. In his travels, he also includes “They are upon no account allowed to walk out after dark; and they never think of sleeping abroad, even at the house of their father or mother, unless the husband is with them.” (173). Women are depicted as weak and fragile to the point where they cannot be seen at home. This is something that seems to keep occurring even up to date. For instance, I remember having a different curfew than my brother because of my gender. He would be able to come passing ten o’clock, but if it were me, my mother would be more concerned and mad. However, seeing how these women have to actually be escorted by their husbands limits their freedom and their ability to be who they want to be. Women have their liberty restricted and all he writes about is that in the eyes of English law a “man may beat his wife with a stick” (173). This shows how Khan was belittling women as objects of affection and objects of abuse. Not only that, but something else that stood out was how he demeans poor people as ugly people for not having the ability to understand knowledge. It is crazy to see how Khan negatively depicts a poor person’s appearance if their intellectual levels are not enough, yet through his text, one can notice how he quickly recognizes his good looks (also meaning how knowledged he is). And seeing how he uses European culture as an example of beauty.
Written by Caitlyn Klemm
While not wholly progressive by modern standards, Taleb acts as the symbol of the Eastern Orient, and thus presents himself as proud and intelligent during his travels in the West. His presentation of his self may occasionally (if not often) truncate into arrogance and egoism, but not without purpose. As one of the few Orient travelers of his time, his being in England would act as the baseline of knowledge that most of the West would directly gather of the East, which could then affect trade relations and more. One of the many ways he asserts his presence is the belittling of women, be it their status in relation to him or by demeaning them into physical objects which please his eye. On page 132, for example, Taleb describes a woman of meeting a “Miss —” at Sir T. Metcalfe’s house of whom whose beauty was deserving of an ode written by Taleb himself. The ode appears to be too flirtatious, in light terms, as the East India Trade Company translator finds themself unable to include it. Taleb is blatantly seen comparing women to other women, such as how he scrutinizes the women of the Cape, or how other English women would be “envious of [his] attachment” to other women, or the fact that he’d once lived in a brothel (132). Despite the indecency of some of his comments, of all things unable to be translated, this ode appears to be far too obscene, pointing to the lengths at which Taleb sexualized this Miss who may or may not be related to the Sir T. Metcalfe of whose house he was invited to.
There is additionally a level of acknowledgement from Taleb as he says how he “may perhaps be accused of personal vanity by saying, that [his] society was courted, and that [his] wit and repartees” extended far beyond the English (123). The very idea that Taleb is at least self aware of his appearance lends evidence to the thought that he is, to an extent, performing these qualities for another reason. Given his animosity with Captain Williamson and his fervent desire to think independently for himself (often against the will of his friends and colleagues), one could speculate that Taleb is attempting to carve a proper space for the Orient in the Western world by representing himself as prim, knowledgeable, and charismatic to the ladies and authoritative and superior to the men.
The absolute misogyny does not seem to be out of line with English culture, however. Captain Thomas Williamson of the East India Trade Company writes about Taleb with disdain only because of the way he was treated kindly by women—as though the women were tools for measurement of a man’s worth, which not only literally objectifies them but also puts them immediately under men. If misogyny were a field that the English excelled in, Taleb aimed to dominate. The scales of the East and West weighed heavily towards the West—seeing how the East India Trade Company practically ruled over the Mughal Empire at the time—and the one of the ways Taleb could tilt it into his favor was by participating in the sport of ridiculing women, and by being better than the English at it; judging by his later “Persian Prince” title and widespread celebrity status, he’d achieved that semblance of equality. Regardless of whether his misogyny was a pure act of performance to rival the English or a culmination of his cultural experiences as well, Taleb primarily concerns himself with standing at least equal to the English instead of faltering in servitude or worship as characters like Captain Thomas Williamson and others from the East India Trade Company would expect.
In The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, Abu Taleb Khan composes his accounts through a judgemental and oppressive lens. He presents ideas about women, some of which are still found within society. He points out that women “require costly presents” (84). Furthermore, he depicts English women as sexual objects and property of men. “They are upon no account allowed to walk out after dark; and they never think of sleeping abroad, even at the house of their father or mother, unless the husband is with them.” (173). The English women were not able to complete simple tasks without being escorted by their husbands. He continues to declare that in the eyes of English law a “man may beat his wife with a stick” (173). With that being said, women were treated like dogs, if not lesser. This was to prevent “an improper use of liberty they had” (173). This is ironic as in reality English women had very little liberty; any liberty they do hold is diminished and devalued. Ultimately, Khan admits this as he writes that although Mohammaden women “are prohibited from mixing in society” (174), they are still allowed to visit their family and female friends. Like Lady Mary Montagu, both authors recognize that Muslim women held more independence than English women. Abu Taleb views English women in the same way British imperial culture views them: as possessions with no actual freedom (unless being accompanied by their husbands). On the other hand, Khan differentiates from English men as he declines to spend money in order to talk to a woman.
Maya Carranza
In The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, we see that Khan is fascinated by the European women that he sees and they in turn are also fascinated by him. When Khan first arrived in Europe he was seen as a spectacle due to his foreign nature to the point that the papers referred to him as a “Persian Prince.” This fascination with Khan can be seen when he is at the Spa Garden and he is made a spectacle as he states that he “attracted much attention” and was “frequently challenged by some beautiful women to replenish my glass” (147). Later on when describing the way in which English people go about their daily lives he mentions that “I scarcely ever passed the pastry-cook’s shop at the corner of Newman-street in Oxford-road that I did not go in and spend money for the pleasure of talking to a beautiful young woman who kept it” (173). From these quotes, we can gather that he was seen as a spectacle but was not bothered by it, and in fact, he indulged in this attention that he received. He gladly gave money to the bakery for the sole purpose of being able to ogle at the girl that was working there and he continued to drink all the wine that was offered to him in order to appease the women who offered it to him. It is in particular this willingness to appease these European women that is telling as it demonstrates that Khan wants to demonstrate that he can fit in despite the fact that they consider him to be an exotic foreigner. However, since he also indulges in looking at these women then we see that this is not a simple one-way exchange and they both get something out of it in particular Khan gets to interact with these women and feel a sense of belonging when he does so.
Transnational Encounters with Islam in 18th- and 19th-Century British Literature 