The Power of Greed

            Greed shall one day overcome us all. At one point or another, the notion of greed is sometimes an unavoidable fate that causes some to put their possession or power ahead of those most dearest to them. In the case of Hashim, the main character in the novel “East, West” written by Salman Rushdie, the same example is shown to be true. One day while while roaming his lakeside residence, Hashim noticed a small vial floating in between his boat and the dock. Little did he know that this ancient relic of Muhammad would eventually lead to his demise. The previous night it is said that thieves had stolen the ancient relic the night before from Hrazatbal mosque. When crossing upon this ancient and sacred strand of hair Hashim’s first intention was to return the relic to its original beholder. However, for this moneylender, the greed within his soul would soon prevail.

            Immediately Hashim began to feel the effects of his ill decision to hold on to the ancient relic. “The moneylender looked swollen, distended, His eyes bulged even more than they always had, they were red rimmed, and his knuckles were white” (Rushdie 45). The curse did not just affect him; but it also spread to ruin the structure of his family. Soon he began to spurt his uneasiness with his very own wife. “…for many years their marriage had been the worst of his afflictions” (Rushdie 45). (Next he revealed to his family the existence of a mistress” (Rushdie 45).  This sudden outrage was a shock to his family. No longer did they know the caring father that had once lived with and for them. After realizing the curse that had immediately been set upon the family, Atta the son of Hashim, set out for his father’s safe for he was the only other individual that had a key to it. His intentions were to also return the valuable relic to its home. However, on his way to the mosque, Atta did not realize that the hole in the pocket of his pants caused the Relic to fall. Eventually Hashim found the relic on the floor and proceeded to beat Huma, his daughter, for the truth; and Atta as well received a beating for his actions.

            In need of dire help to save the family, Huma contacted a notorious thief by the name of Sheikh, and told her about the relic and of her family’s troubles. The thief felt remorse and agreed to steal the relic and return it to its rightful place at the price of some jewelry. Then came the night of the robbery. Right as the thief was about to capture what he set out for “Atta sat bolt upright in his bed, giving his mother a great fright… prompted by goodness knows what pressure of the blood-clot upon his brain” (Rushdie 54). Next Hashim came rushing out of his room, and in the darkness accidentally stabbed and killed his daughter Huma. With both his daughter and son dead, Hashim killed himself in disbelief of the actions that had proceeded. His wife, was later placed into an insane asylum. As for Sheikh, he was later shot and killed by police.

            This story of greed is a very powerful and true story. Hashim, placed this hobby of collecting above all of those who loved and cherished him. Instead of this sacred relic bringing him good luck like he assumed; it encaptured not only him, but all those that came in contact with it. The relic was not a new beginning to good fortune and happiness, but really the beginning of the end. This story exemplifies the true affects of greed and how it can drive many to nothing but destruction.