Literature's Contribution to 'Honour' Killings: Challenging Cultural Values and Traditions

This thesis will analyse how three different literary texts contribute in the discussion of ‘honour’ killings, and how they challenge cultural values and traditions in honour and shame based communities. The literary texts are the following: Sarbjit Kaur Athwal’s memoir Shamed: The Honour Killing that Shocked Britain – by the Sister Who Fought for Justice, Rana Husseini’s memoir Murder in the Name of Honour and Elif Shafak’s novel Honour. By exploring the aspect of dehumanization, the power of testimony and witnessing, the notion of life narratives, and discrimination against women, as seen through the different texts, I aim to propose a solution on how to not only challenge, but also change cultural values and traditions. There is a dire need to stop murdering girls and women in the name of honour, and these three authors, through their unique style, language and content, call for not only an ethical response, but for their readers to stand up and take action