This research paper deals with Monica Ali's first novel Brick Lane, an epic saga about a Bangladeshi family living in London, which explores the British immigration experience. The novel is highly disputed with its most important aspects of identity, belonging and community problems. People who actually live in the estate of Brick Lane feel being patronized by Ali's novel the more or the less. Just to show how critics reacted to Ali´s masterpiece, I will give two examples briefly.
Ian Jack, the editor of the Granta Magazine said: “Monica Ali is not from Sylhet [which lies in the far north-east of the country next to the Indian state of Assam and was, until the partition of India, part of Assam and not Bengal] and nor are her novel´s principal characters. Sylhettis, however, are the people her characters (though not their author) live among. I spent a week […] in Sylhet […]. […] When I got back to Calcutta, I got into a
shouting match with a taxi-driver about The Satanic Verses. ‘But it´s only a novel,’ I said.
‘You know, personal, made-up, invented – fiction.’ ‘Exactly’, he said. ‘Fiction. Lies.’ Brick Lane is a fine first novel, but nobody should be surprised if it raises similar arguments. In a way, they are a compliment to it an to an ambitious idea of what fiction can still do.” Matthew Taylor, The Guardian, said: “Community Leaders from the neighbourhood in the East End of London that inspired Monica Ali´s Booker-nominated first novel, Brick Lane,
have branded her work a ‘despicable insult’ to Bangladeshis living in the area. The Greater Sylhet Welfare and Development Council, which represents many of Britain´s 500,000
Bangladeshis, has written an 18-page letter to the author outlining their objections to the ‘shameful’ way the book depicts the community. They feel the book portrays Bangladeshis in Brick Lane as backward, uneducated and unsophisticated.”2
In addition, the treatment of language and time in the book is of just the same importance. It makes Ali´s novel somewhat unique and different. While Brick Lane is meant to be satirical, it can be read as a drama, for in terms of living the novel focusses on the
buddhist aspect that its characters have been put on earth just to suffer.
This research paper will consist of two main parts. In the first one, I will give an exact analysis and interpretation of the novel attending to the most important aspects like characterization, the structure and ...
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Brick Lane: A Bengali Community in London – The Discrepancy of Two Worlds
- Plot, Structure and Style
- Characterization
- Theme
- Symbolism
- Brick Lane: A Guide to Post-Colonial Literature?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This research paper analyzes Monica Ali's debut novel "Brick Lane," focusing on its portrayal of a Bangladeshi family in London and exploring the complexities of British immigration experiences. The paper examines how the novel addresses themes of identity, belonging, and community challenges, and critically reflects on the work's relevance to post-colonial literature.
- The experiences of Bangladeshi immigrants in London
- The themes of identity and belonging
- The representation of community dynamics and challenges
- The role of fate and destiny in shaping characters' lives
- The significance of language and cultural differences
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the novel's protagonist, Nazneen, who arrives in London from Bangladesh after an arranged marriage in 1985. The chapter explores the initial challenges she faces adjusting to a new culture and her dependence on her husband, Chanu. The impact of fate and destiny on their lives, particularly the loss of their first child, is highlighted. The chapter also introduces themes of language, cultural differences, and community relationships. The second chapter delves deeper into the novel's themes and analyzes the portrayal of Nazneen's life and relationships. It examines how she navigates her arranged marriage, the evolving dynamics of her family, and her growing awareness of the complexities of her surroundings. The chapter also explores the impact of cultural differences, the influence of Nazneen's sister Hasina, and the emergence of Karim as a significant figure in Nazneen's life.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The central themes and concepts explored in this research paper include Bangladeshi immigrant experiences, post-colonialism, identity, belonging, community, fate, destiny, language, cultural differences, and immigration challenges. The novel "Brick Lane" serves as a critical lens for examining these multifaceted aspects of post-colonial literature and the lives of immigrants in contemporary Britain.
- Quote paper
- Oliver Baum (Author), 2005, Monica Ali's Novel "Brick Lane". A Critical Reflection of Post-Colonialism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/280638