In "Among the Ruins", Ian Baucom points out that, ."..if the nation is an imagined community, then the English nation is a community in mourning." As Baucom uses V.S. Naipaul's The Enigma of Arrival repeatedly as an example, the reader becomes aware of a couple of points: that the state of nationalism within the individual is predictably the state of melancholy for a culture which has disintegrated, or changed to the point of near non-recognition, and that the longing and nostalgia for what has been lost creates problems in the individual's identity. Issues of identity and memory seem to plague the main characters of the last three novels we read in class: Aadam Aziz's nostalgia for the Kashmiri of his youth and problems constructing his European-Kashmiri identity, Usama's failure to comprehend the adjustments his fellow Palestinians have made to living under occupation, and Deane's anonymous character's issues in overcoming the secrets of his family in relation to the history of his nation. In each story the character's feel a sense of separateness from their community either due to changes which have occurred inside them as individuals, or changes which have occurred in the community. This essay will examine how memory is profoundly shaped not only by the historical identity of the community but also that of self.
The first novel I will look at in regards to these issues is Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children. As I previously mentioned, I feel it is Aadam Aziz's nostalgia for the Kashmiri of his youth and also his difficulty reconciling his newly acquired European ideals with his former Kashmiri lifestyle which complicates his identity. I will begin by looking at the historical identity of Aziz's community. Using the poin...
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...o the changes that have occurred within him. Whereas Aziz is changed by his travels in Europe, the anonymous character of this novel is profoundly changed and shaped by the truth behind his family's secrets.
In closing, I would like to once again point out the similarities between these three novels: Dr. Aadam Aziz and the unnamed character of Deane's novel both are nostalgic not for a disintegrated culture, but rather the memory of themselves previous to their influencing experiences. Usama, on the other hand is unequivocally nostalgic for the Palestinian culture that once was. All three of these main characters share the distinction of having trouble constructing their self identity in relation to their experiences. Each of these characters could ask himself, who am I? what do I choose to remember? how does my memory affect my identity of self and community?
Firstly, one’s identity is largely influenced by the dynamics of one’s relationship with their father throughout their childhood. These dynamics are often established through the various experiences that one shares with a father while growing up. In The Glass Castle and The Kite Runner, Jeannette and Amir have very different relationships with their fathers as children. However the experiences they share with these men undou...
The book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was written by John Berendt and was
Haidri deals with conflict of self in regards to the way she identifies herself. She argues that culture and heritage is always undeniable a part of a human that can’t be avoided. Both Wright and Haidri, coming from different backgrounds, shares the quality of having language as the missing puzzle piece that connects them to family and ancestors as well as being multicultural human-beings having to adjust to the societies they live in. As they find the link each writer begin to understand the privilege of being multicultural which helps them become more of a unique individual. A multicultural identity incorporates the customs and traditions like language, families, and ancestors of two or more cultures into one which helps shape a
In order to fully examine the narrator’s transformation journey, there are many factors that have to be looked at in the themes that are discussed in the book. They include the Grandfather’s message in chapter one, Tod Clifton’s death, when the narrator is kicked out of college and the events in the factory and the factory hospital are some of the examples (Ellison 11). All these events contributed enormously towards the narrator finding his true identity.
Culture influences identity greatly and this can be seen in “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini. When looking at all of the characters in this book there always seemed to be one that stood out to me more than all of the other characters. This unruly character that made so many decisions and executed so many actions that I would never even dream of doing or hear of others doing. Rasheed is proud of his culture and embraces it with open arms, he is not a man of change and refers to some of the changes around him disgustingly as “modern”. Making it very clear that he is not and never will be like those revolting “modern men” and that he is on a much higher level than them.
Hall, Stuart “Cultural Identity and Diaspora” in Theorizing Diaspora, edited by Jana Evans Braziel and Anita Mannur.
...om Joyce’s childhood. The young boy may have felt anguish, but the adult that looks back at himself sees someone who desires romance and happiness. Joyce explains “Araby” as the life of a young boy who has dreams and high expectations of the world, but instead the young boy gets a bitter taste of reality.
“Who am I?” It is the question every person will have to face in life. If that question is ever truly answered is another subject. However, it does lead to another intriguing question: why am I this way? Many have dove into the depths of this matter to try and establish the correlation between attaining an identity and the reason people end up with that said identity. There is a vast majority of subjects that people have said influence a person’s identity. However, James Baldwin in “Stranger in the Village,” and Jhumpa Lahiri in “My Two Lives,” focus on addressing, in their writing, the correlation between identity and culture. The examinations of these two essays puts forth key points that support the idea that identity and culture do affect
Rutherford, Jonathan. "Third Space: Interview with Homi K. Bhabha." Identity: Community, Culture, Difference. Ed. Jonathan Rutherford. London: Lawrence & Wishart, 1990. 207-221.
...n the grasping of the past. Through the contrasting perceptions of victims, Hamid successfully portrays how neither the country nor characters can resist the changes that occur in the dynamic cycle of life. At one end of the spectrum are America and Erica who’re depicted as candidates of extreme nostalgia; embarking to recreate past memories as a result of the unpleasant predicament of the present. On the opposite end lies Jim, who possesses the ability to embrace and adapt to change in a favorable manner, using his past as a catalyst for future success. Changez on the contrary lies seemingly in the middle – aware of the addictive nature of nostalgia yet unable to withhold its pull and let go of past traditions. Combining all the aspects mentioned Hamid was able to skillfully create a story that depicts the dangers of submerging in the past and its traditions.
The narrator continues with describing his resentment towards his home life, 'Coming home was not easy anymore. It was never a cinch, but it had become a torture (2).'; This excerpt provides the reader with an understanding of the sorrow that the protagonist feels at the beginning of the novel and throughout the first half. Further narration includes the protagonists feelings of distance from the land and blame that he places upon himself, 'But the distance I felt came not from country or people; it came from within me (2).'; Thus, as the reader, we understand that the narrator has removed himself from the land and his culture.
...d to exhibit the harsh treatments many citizens living there do in recent years. Moreover, Hosseini and Amir explain the importance of having a father figure who would be support their son’s interests in life and helping them thrive for success in the careers they would like to pursue. Neither Hosseini or Amir had a father who supported their long term goals. Hosseini’s and Amir’s high social class in their hometown Kabul, made life easier for them as they were growing up because they were able to afford education which helped them a lot in the careers they pursued in. When both Hosseini and Amir came to the United States, they had a tough time learning the lifestyles of an American, but for the most part, it brought them to how successful they became. Ultimately, Khaled Hosseini creates a protagonist in his novel who serves as a parallel to his own life experiences.
Bhaba. The paper will mainly focus on the erasure of the national identities and selves
In late 1947, the newly created states of India and Pakistan went to war over the valley of Kashmir. A United Nations brokered ceasefire divided the state into Indian and Pakistani controlled territories, and resolved that a referendum would be held in which the people of Kashmir would be able to choose to join either country. The referendum has not been held to this day. India granted its portion of Kashmir a special status within its constitution, allowing for a great degree of self-autonomy. However, successive Kashmiri governments have been dissolved by the government of India, and elections have only been held in the presence of its armed forces. In 1965, Pakistan and India waged a second indecisive war over Kashmir. In the 1980s, resistance within Kashmir itself against the Indian government took on a violent nature, with guerilla attacks against Indian army bases. India responded with heavy army clampdowns, and since then the situation has only escalated and get worse. It is estimated that well over 34,000 people have died within the valley, and the relations between the two countries have become increasingly acrimonious. India blames Pakistan for the militant uprising, claiming Islamabad is supporting cross border terrorism. Pakistan responds that it merely provides diplomatic and moral support arguing, furthermore, that India’s history of human rights abuses in the valley is to blame. With both countries now in possession of nuclear arms; the recent war in KARGIL and the increasing number of civilian deaths, refugees, and other human rights issues within Kashmir, the conflict seems to be taking on a more serious nature. In this paper I will discuss the Kashmir conflict in some depth, examining the problem in...
The most threatening conflict between Hindus and Muslims is the province of Kashmir. This is where the decision to divide India into India and Pakistan seems to have been a terrible mistake. Kashmir, which is the only Muslim majority city in India, lies between the divided India and Pakistan. After India’s independence in the 1940’s, Kashmir had to choose to either unite with India or Pakistan. The Prince of Kashmir chose India but Pakistan invaded the province soon after and have occupied part of Kashmir since then. Controversy still surrounds the province today because naturally, Muslims want to control it. While many Muslims relocated to Pakistan and the Hindus to India, half of the Muslim population was left in India and their relations did not improve after being partially separated.