Manuscript Number : SHISRRJ2472139

Exploring Existentialism through Jhumpa Lahiri's Narrative : Perspectives on Identity, Belonging, and the Diasporic Experience

Authors(2) :-Devinder Kumar, Dr. Ravinder Kumar

This paper delves into the existential themes present in Jhumpa Lahiri's works, offering a comprehensive thematic analysis of her exploration of identity, belonging, and the diasporic experience. By examining her characters' existential struggles, it analyses how Lahiri portrays the complexities of selfhood and cultural displacement. The paper investigates how Lahiri's narratives, rich in postcolonial perspectives, depict the nuanced realities of individuals caught between cultures, grappling with feelings of alienation and the search for meaning. Her characters often confront the challenge of reconciling their inherited cultural identities with their lived experiences in new environments, leading to profound reflections on self and existence. This thematic analysis highlights how Lahiri's work provides a critical lens through which we can examine broader existential questions and their impact on contemporary discussions of identity and the human condition. Through this exploration, we gain deeper insights into how Lahiri's storytelling captures the essence of the diasporic experience, shedding light on the universal quest for belonging and self-understanding amidst the complexities of a multicultural world.

Authors and Affiliations

Devinder Kumar
Department of English, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Distt. Fatehgarh Sahib; Panjab, India
Dr. Ravinder Kumar
Department of English, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Distt. Fatehgarh Sahib; Panjab, India

Existential Perspectives, Realities, Cultural Conflicts, Complexities, Storytelling.

Primary Sources:

  • Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1999.
  • The Namesake. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2003.
  • Unaccustomed Earth. Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.
  • Lahiri, Jhumpa. The Lowland. Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.

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  • Bandyopadhyay, Manisha. Jhumpa Lahiri: A Critical Study. Atlantic Publishers & Distributors,2013.
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  • Dey, S. K. Jhumpa Lahiri’s Fiction: An Overview. New World, 2010.
  • De, S. Displacement and Identity: The Diasporic Worlds of Jhumpa Lahiri. Literature and History, vol. 27, no. 1, 2016, pp. 32-45.
  • Ghosh, R. Jhumpa Lahiri’s Thematic Concerns: A Study of Selected Texts. Lambert Academic Publishing, 2014.
  • Ghosh, A.  Existential Themes in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Short Stories. Studies in the Novel, vol. 50, no. 4, 2018, pp. 455-470.
  • Gupta, M. C. The Diasporic Fiction of Jhumpa Lahiri: A Study of Cultural and Psychological Conflicts. Authors press, 2012.

Publication Details

Published in : Volume 7 | Issue 2 | March-April 2024
Date of Publication : 2024-04-05
License:  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Page(s) : 64-70
Manuscript Number : SHISRRJ2472139
Publisher : Shauryam Research Institute

ISSN : 2581-6306

Cite This Article :

Devinder Kumar, Dr. Ravinder Kumar , "Exploring Existentialism through Jhumpa Lahiri's Narrative : Perspectives on Identity, Belonging, and the Diasporic Experience", Shodhshauryam, International Scientific Refereed Research Journal (SHISRRJ), ISSN : 2581-6306, Volume 7, Issue 2, pp.64-70, March-April.2024
URL : https://shisrrj.com/SHISRRJ2472139

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