In ‘Home Fire’, Shamsie reimagines the story of Antigone, linking the final rites of burial of her dead brother Polyneices to Aneeka and Isma’s attempts to have their dead brother’s body shipped back to England after he is slain outside the British consulate in Turkey. There are also very clear connections between the main characters in both.
In my opinion, the creative element of this novel comes across to the readers not only through the story itself, but also because of any pre-knowledge that affects the readers’ perception of the book. The first element of transformation seen in the novel was the similar nature of both Polyneices’ and Parvaiz’s deaths – dying because of something morally questionable, going against what the people around them told them to do. In Polyneices’ case, it was waging a war against his own brother; In Parvaiz’s case it was joining ISIS to follow his late father’s path, even after being warned against this. Furthermore, Shamsie has adapted the link between family and tragedy, as seen in both Oedipus and Antigone.
The creative manner in which Shamsie evokes emotion within the audience lies within other parts of the story, too. By presenting Eamonn as a romantic interest to both Isma and Aneeka, Shamsie creates complication in the story, and the emotional turmoil between the two sisters in Antigone is heightened by adding a love interest to the mix. This creative choice is also highly significant due to its effect on the readers. In the same manner as viewers gasp at the dramatic reveal in a soap opera, readers are shocked by seeing Aneeka and Eamonn develop a sexual relationship.
tbc
