A Decolonial Study of Postethnic Illusions: Universality vs. Pluriversality in Klara and the Sun and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Candidate of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Professor of English Language and Literature, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of American Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Through a decolonial approach, this study questions the concept of postethnicity, proposed by David Hollinger, arguing that Hollinger’s vision of a rooted cosmopolitanism – a globally connected society built on shared values – is based upon narrow ‘universal’ values which solely align with Western standards. Decolonial critics like Walter D. Mignolo, in return, advocate for a ‘pluriversal’ world where multiple perspectives and voices coexist without being subsumed under a dominant Western narrative. The study uses two novels, Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun and Arundhati Roy’s The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, to illustrate this debate. It argues that Ishiguro’s novel, while exploring universal themes, is ultimately rooted in a Western ethnocentric perspective, reflecting a zero-point view where Western paradigms are presented as global patterns. On the other hand, Roy’s novel is situated in India, addressing local issues and challenging Western standards. The study highlights how Roy’s work embraces cosmopolitan localism – a perspective that acknowledges both local and global interconnectedness while resisting Western dominance. The study concludes that Ishiguro’s approach at best leads to rewesternization – a reassertion of Western perspectives even while attempting to move beyond them, while Roy’s by integrating indigenous traditions, individual and local singularities, and global issues, contributes to the decolonization of Western paradigms advocating a pluriversal world where multiple voices are valued.

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References

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  • Receive Date: 28 April 2024
  • Revise Date: 17 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 07 November 2024

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