COLONIAL MIMICRY AND HYBRIDITY IN THE SELECTED WORKS OF JHUMPA LAHIRI: A POSTCOLONIAL STUDY

Abstract

This essay examines the themes of colonial mimicry and hybridity in the works of Jhumpa Lahiri, using a postcolonial perspective to analyze how her characters negotiate the intricacies of identity within the framework of immigration. The study conducts a thorough analysis of The Namesake and Interpreter of Maladies, exploring how Lahiri’s characters contend with the conflict between their Indian background and the American society they embrace. The notion of colonial mimicry, as defined by Homi Bhabha, is examined in connection with characters such as Gogol Ganguli, whose efforts to integrate into American culture result in a fragmented identity. Conversely, hybridity, which involves the amalgamation of cultural identities, is shown as a more dynamic and fluid process, enabling individuals to create new identities that surpass the dichotomy of Indian and American. The study illustrates how Lahiri’s work encapsulates the intricate and dynamic essence of immigrant identity, influenced by colonialism, cultural assimilation, and individual metamorphosis. Lahiri’s writings significantly enhance the postcolonial debate on identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience, illustrating the deep influence of colonial histories on modern global migrations and the formation of hybrid identities.