Trans-Cultural Discourse: Displacement and Immigration in Selected Stories of Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidtae, Department of English Language and Literature, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, Borujerd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Borujerd, Iran

Abstract

The migration of Indians to various destinations during the past few decades has led to the emergence of a group of writers known as Asian-American authors in literature. These writers, including immigrant women from India spanning the first and second generations, have crafted a substantial collection of short fiction. Jhumpa Lahiri, a Bengali-Indian writer, explores themes of identity, belonging, displacement, and the challenges of straddling different cultural attitudes in Interpreter of Maladies. This article adopts a theoretical approach and utilizes the library research method, drawing on the insights of scholars such as Stuart Hall and Michael Ryan, to explore cultural displacement, identity, and the experiences of immigrants in a new multicultural environment. The central focus is to know how Lahiri addresses displacement and immigration through trans-cultural discourses while challenging cultural diversities in Interpreter of Maladies. By employing such a trans-cultural discourse, this study aims to analyze how Lahiri portrays the complexities of cultural differences, and identity formation in the context of immigration. The narratives in Interpreter of Maladies offer a rich tapestry of characters navigating the challenges of living between cultures, shedding light on the profound impact of displacement on individuals and families. By closely examining Lahiri’s storytelling techniques and character development, this article aims to illuminate how the author captures the nuances of trans-cultural experiences and the facts that ultimately put their impact on the formation of immigrants’ new identities in unfamiliar territories.

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References

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Critical Literary Studies
Volume 7, Issue 1 - Serial Number 13
October 2024
Pages 167-182

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History

  • Receive Date: 08 December 2023
  • Revise Date: 22 July 2024
  • Accept Date: 02 October 2024

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