Disgraced Sparknotes
In the play Disgraced, by Ayad Akhtar, Emily and Amir’s friends Isaac and Jory call into question each other’s identities and values as they contradict each other’s views on Islam, racial profiling, and other cultural issues. Throughout the group’s conversation, the couple focuses on one other’s factual inaccuracies, preconceived notions, and moral judgments, calling into question their respective opinions and political ideologies. Akhtar uses Jory and Isaac’s questioning of each other’s credibility to explore Jory’s doubts about Isaac’s liberal intellect and Isaac’s doubts about Jory’s sense of fairness, ultimately revealing that one’s perspective on race and religion is not dictated solely by heritage or upbringing. Throughout the conversation,
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Early in the conversation, when Jory commends Amir for offering himself up to be checked in airport security, Isaac tells her that such an act encourages “racial profiling” (50), as if she needs to be informed. Jory responds sternly that she “know[s] what [racial profiling] is” (50), likely due to firsthand experience as an African American woman. Isaac’s comment suggests that he considers himself better informed on the subject than Jory (ironic considering that he is white) and questions her experience as a black woman. Later, when Jory defends France’s banning of the veil by saying that, “you do have to draw the line somewhere” (59), Isaac responds, “Okay, Mrs. Kissinger” (59), as a way of criticizing Jory’s political beliefs. Jory's willingness to “draw the line” suggests that, in the pursuit of order, Jory permits some components of religious expression but not the more controversial ones. Akhtar references Henry Kissinger’s extreme emphasis on order over justice, as embodied in his quote “When faced with choosing justice or order, I’ll always choose order” (59). Isaac criticizes Jory for exactly those priorities, which he believes to be flawed as a result of his liberal mindset. As an African American woman, Jory may be expected to be more outspoken and impassioned for justice than Isaac; however, she instead idealizes order, believing that the more radical aspects of certain religions should be controlled to keep the peace. Through Isaac’s challenging of Jory’s beliefs, Akhtar emphasizes Jory’s more conservative perspective the way it contrasts from what might be expected of a young black woman
Early in the conversation, when Jory commends Amir for offering himself up to be checked in airport security, Isaac tells her that such an act encourages “racial profiling” (50), as if she needs to be informed. Jory responds sternly that she “know[s] what [racial profiling] is” (50), likely due to firsthand experience as an African American woman. Isaac’s comment suggests that he considers himself better informed on the subject than Jory (ironic considering that he is white) and questions her experience as a black woman. Later, when Jory defends France’s banning of the veil by saying that, “you do have to draw the line somewhere” (59), Isaac responds, “Okay, Mrs. Kissinger” (59), as a way of criticizing Jory’s political beliefs. Jory's willingness to “draw the line” suggests that, in the pursuit of order, Jory permits some components of religious expression but not the more controversial ones. Akhtar references Henry Kissinger’s extreme emphasis on order over justice, as embodied in his quote “When faced with choosing justice or order, I’ll always choose order” (59). Isaac criticizes Jory for exactly those priorities, which he believes to be flawed as a result of his liberal mindset. As an African American woman, Jory may be expected to be more outspoken and impassioned for justice than Isaac; however, she instead idealizes order, believing that the more radical aspects of certain religions should be controlled to keep the peace. Through Isaac’s challenging of Jory’s beliefs, Akhtar emphasizes Jory’s more conservative perspective the way it contrasts from what might be expected of a young black woman