Diasporic Elements in Jhumpa Lahiri's ‘The Namesake’: Identity, Belonging, and Cultural Negotiation
Keywords:
Diaspora writing, Cultural hybridity, Immigrant identity, Indian diaspora, Transnationalism, Cultural displacementAbstract
This paper examines the complex interplay of identity formation, cultural displacement, and the search for belonging in Jhumpa Lahiri's novel ‘The Namesake’. Drawing from postcolonial theory and diaspora studies, this analysis explores how Lahiri, herself a child of Indian immigrants, masterfully portrays the multifaceted challenges faced by both first and second-generation immigrants. The study particularly focuses on the novel's treatment of naming conventions, cultural preservation, and the psychological impact of existing between two worlds. Through close textual analysis and theoretical framework application, this paper demonstrates how Lahiri's work contributes to our understanding of contemporary diasporic experiences and transnational identity formation.
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