Question

What is Kamila Shamsie implying when she writes that C.S. Lewis, a well-known British novelist and academic, was unlikely to have ‘written for‘ a girl in Karachi?

Answer 1

Kamila Shamsie suggests that C.S. Lewis, a traditional Western author, likely did not consider a girl in Karachi when writing, highlighting the lack of representation and diversity in historical Western literature. Her point underscores the need for literature to include more narratives that reflect the varied experiences of people worldwide.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Kamila Shamsie writes that C.S. Lewis was unlikely to have ‘written for’ a girl in Karachi, she is implying that traditional Western literature has often not taken into account the experiences and perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds, particularly those outside the Western sphere. This speaks to a broader theme in discussions about representation in literature, where historically, the voices and stories of people of color, especially women, were not effectively included or considered. The student's question touches upon the importance of having diverse narratives that reflect the realities of all readers, as depicted by authors such as Chinua Achebe, who championed storytelling that resonates with people's actual experiences, including those that had been previously marginalized and ignored in mainstream literary circles.

Thus, the point Kamila Shamsie is making relates to the broader literary and cultural shift towards inclusive and representative writing that acknowledges and celebrates the complexity and richness of stories from various corners of the world. It's an understanding that literature can be a powerful medium that shapes our sense of self and the world around us, and it should evolve to include the voices of those who have not traditionally been heard.

Answer 2

This question is incomplete. Here's the complete question.

Read The Pleasure of Reading, edited by Antonia Fraser.

What is Kamila Shamsie implying when she writes that C.S. Lewis, a well-known British novelist and academic, was unlikely to have ‘written for‘ a girl in Karachi?

Answer:

Since she has been asked who she writes for, the British Pakistani writer, Shamsie, explains that not because she grew in Karachi, should be expected that Lewis´s writing was not for her, the same way she considers her novels as not aimed for a specific "nation or ethnicity."

Step-by-step explanation:

Her point being that is a gift to know that "there will always be people who don’t know the world you’re writing about, will miss allegories and allusions, and yet will love your books."