Assimilation in Disgraced Kyle Huang 10th Grade

“Disgraced” is a play written by Ayad Akhtar which focuses on the raw spots of race and culture present in modern American society. Specifically, it highlights the struggles of being a Muslim in the post-9/11 era. Akhtar accomplishes this by introducing Amir, the lead role and an apostate Muslim who wants nothing more than to assimilate into American culture. Although Amir has renounced his faith, his failure to fully commit to the American thinking, because of other’s incapacity to see him more than he truly is, results in his fall into disgrace.

While at first, Amir seems to have fit comfortably into American society, a closer glance reveals that he needs to be extra careful in his life. In the very first scene, the audience is able to see Amir’s lavish lifestyle: “Lights come up. High ceilings, parquet floors, crown molding. The works.” (Akhtar, 5). It is heavily implied that Amir is a very successful lawyer, however he is still slightly uncomfortable with the fact that he is in an all Jewish firm. Believing that he will soon be made a partner and have his name added, he tells Emily, “My mother will roll over in her grave” (11). This gives the reader and the audience the inkling that Amir has not completely rejected Islam...