The Whore, the Text, and the Critics: Flaubert’s Kuchiuk Hanem as Postcolonial Fetish

One of the key examples analysed in Edward Said’s Orientalism is Flaubert’s account his meeting with almeh Kuchiuk Hanem, a skilled dancer and courtesan, Egypt 1850. Frequently revisited by criticism following Said, has had an extraordinary afterlife which she seen as standing for Orient whole, instance synecdoche. We, postcolonial theorists, tend to interpret Kuchiuk-as-text (Flaubert’s notes describing encounter her), through same trope synecdoche, nineteenth-century whole. Yet close reading text reveals concern note down specific details avoid generalising logic that would make individual representative her “race.” critics, could learn from such lesson. All literary genres shape readers’ expectations, rules particular sub-genre theory essay risk predetermining our interpretation texts.