Miss Laila as Narrative Absence and Political Presence: The Study of Character, Myth, and Misrepresentation

Abstract

This study examines the character of Miss Laila in the novel “Miss Laila, Armed and Dangerous” (2017). It focuses on the lack of her presence in the story, allowing others, especially the media and state authorities, to construct and control her identity. Laila has a small role in the story and says little, but she is a powerful political and symbolic figure in the novel. Just because of Laila’s absence in the plot, the narrative gains space to criticise modern society, the media, and Government surveillance. Joseph argues that identity is not something we fully create for ourselves; instead, it is shaped and often controlled by how society, the government, and the media choose to represent us. This study uses postmodern theory to show the interconnection between silence, images that are said about a person, and the myths created in stories. We can understand how truth becomes unstable through the character of Laila in the postmodern society, where the fabricated images and repeated stories shown by the media can make even ordinary people appear dangerous. All these matters happen because of the lack of Laila’s presence. Her habit of speaking is limited; she remains quiet, and the allegations made by the government against her; together, these circumstances emphasise how the modern government claims to protect the people while creating opposition. This paper also shows the comparison of Laila to other characters like Akhila, who is an active speaker in the novel, to highlight her active presence. Akhila has control over how she talks about herself, but for Laila, her identity is imposed upon her by outsiders. Through this, it is clearly depicted how the lack of presence makes political existence more powerful.