Negotiating the In-Between: Hybrid Identities and Postcolonial Displacement in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies
منبع:
Applications of Language Studies, Vol ۴, Issue ۱, ۲۰۲۶
162 - 184
حوزههای تخصصی:
This study examines the themes of hybrid identities and postcolonial displacement in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies . Studying Mrs. Sen's as a primary case study, supplemented by intertextual references to A Real Durwan , The Treatment of Bibi Haldar and When Mr Pirzada Came to Dine . the research explores how Lahiri’s narratives articulate the complexities of cultural negotiation, belonging, and unhomeliness. The aim is to analyze how Lahiri’s characters embody Homi K. Bhabha’s theories of hybridity and the Third Space, which refers to the liminal site where cultural meaning and identity are negotiated, highlighting their struggles and adaptations in transcultural contexts. The methodology involves a close textual analysis of selected stories. The discussion reveals how characters navigate their in-between identities, oscillating between assimilation and cultural retention, and how Lahiri’s hybrid storytelling refers to both the narrative technique and thematic hybridity, which challenges monolithic cultural representations. The findings underscore the dual nature of liminality as both a source of conflict and a catalyst for hybrid identity formation. The conclusion emphasizes that Lahiri’s contribution to postcolonial discourse is foregrounding everyday negotiations of identity through fluid, diasporic experiences. Ultimately, the study highlights the resilience of Lahiri’s characters in negotiating displacement, offering a nuanced understanding of identity in a globalized world.