The portrayal of Insecurity and Security in Jumpa Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies”

Abstract

The research aimed to discuss the portrayal of security and insecurity in Jumpa Lahiri’s “interpreter of maladies”. The interpreter of maladies reflect experiences of individuals who emigrated from India to America. In this collection certain aspects were reflected among them diaspora and identity. The research focuses on analyzing four different stories “Mrs. Sen”,“The Blessed House”, “The Third and Final Continent”, And “When Mr. Prizada Came To Dine”. The study aimes to explore the characters development throughout the stories. Moreover, the study seeks to examine the ways the characters resorted to cope and adapt living in America. The study is based on post-colonial reading to the collection of “The interpreter Of Maladies” using Homi Bhabha notions of postcolonial literature. The dissertation adopts a set of research approaches to achieve the intended research aims. Analytical and descriptive approaches are necessary to describe the life of the characters and examine the changes and their development. Furthermore, interpretative approach was crucial to interpret and conclude the findings of the research. Nevertheless, qualitative method is needed to study and examine related data that builds and constructs the research objectives. The research finds that assimilation is a difficult process for immigrants and each individual perceive it differently. Moreover, second generation immigrants adopt easily in western societies since most of them were raised there. However, most of first generation immigrants struggle to integrate themselves into western societies since they displaced into different country. Therefore, it can be said that integration and assimilation to another culture depends on the openness to change for each individual. Those who cannot assimilate they do so to preserve their heritage. Consequently, they stand out as the other rather than assimilate. Whereas, those who are open to change they adapt easily.