The Dust Collector

    Do a google image search for the work irony. The links that come up are are just that ironic. There are images of a dead end sign posted at the entrance of a grave yard, bombs with peace signs painted on them, or my favorite a man holding a protest sign saying "freedom of expression can go to hell."

    Websters dictionary defines irony as "the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning." In the images in our google search it is easy to see how this definition applies. Each conveys a statement of satirical irony, making fun of a situation containing the opposite of what we have expected or understood. This is the same technique that Salman Rushdie uses in his anti-collector's short story "The Prophets Hair." 

    Centered around a Muslim family who's life is turned upside down by the introduction of a piece of the Prophet Mohammed's hair, our story takes us through a complete metamorphosis. When Hashim, the father and moneylender finds the relic he makes a severe turn to the strict and abusive religious fanatic. Of the many messages Rushdie is trying to convey in this story the one that stands out the most to me is the ridiculousness of collecting. So many people around the world spend their time and money on antique or collectible items that end up as decoration or dust collectors. These items somehow take precedence over moving, breathing life. The absurdity of it is somewhat obvious, but it is a highly practiced consumption in our society. Rushdie implies however an even more real danger in focusing your energy on collecting items. He aims to show us that it is harmful to your life, and that of others and can even lead to death by showing us the fate of the money lender and his family.

    "A shadow came rushing towards him through the midnight darkness of the passageway and, in his somnolent anger, the moneylender thrust his sword fatally through it's heart. Turning up the light, he found that he had murdered his daughter, and under the dire influence of this accident he was so overwhelmed by remorse that he turned the sword upon himself, fell upon it and so extinguished his life."

    There are actually two different relics at work here. First we have the piece of hair. Hashim, the moneylender  had become so obsessed with his new collectors item that he lost sight of reality. He put all of his worth into the worship of the material item, changing his entire way of life along with his families. Rushdie tells us that when you concern yourself so intently on a material item you can eventually become part of that item and eventually loose yourself.  When you collect something, whether it is relics or shotglasses you have to be careful that your identity does not start to become one with your collection. If left out of check your life will start to revolve around the materials you collect, and not real life.

    The second relic at work is the cane Hashim has in his hand. It is also a collectors item that he treasures, enough so that he keeps it by his bed. enclosed in the cane is a sword which is part of what makes it so unique. However, it is not the worth of the item that makes it such and integral part of the story. Rather, the identity it takes on as a murder weapon is the comment we are looking at. Rushdie not only points out the dangers of loosing yourself in a material object, but he also symbolically tells us that we are killing our relationships with the people around us. By being so caught up in these things, these dust collectors, we lose sight of what is really important in our lives, each other. It is appropriate then that Hashim actually kills his own daughter with one of his precious items.

    In a society that is caught up so entirely caught up in material worth it is no wonder Salman Rushdie has something to say. We judge our self worth on the number of cars we own, the amount of dollars on our paycheck, on the type of clothing we can afford. We work hard in college or at work to find a way to be financial secure and hopefully wealthy because we think that is what will make us happy. But those things will only keeps us from the real value of life, not to mention they won't last forever. And really, it's just a bunch of stuff.