Globalization is one of those terms which is used quite inflationary in these times. Regardless which area one is looking at, it doesn’t matter if speaking for instance of economy, communication or education, it seems like every sector of our post-modern world is shaped by globalization. But how does this process influence our lives as an individual human being, as an identity? In his short-story “Lend me your Light”, which is part of the short-story cycle “Taales of Firozsha Baag”, Rohinton Mistry descibes the life of a young man, who emigrates from India to Canada. Even before arriving at his new home, the protagonist has a bad feeling concerning his future.
Kersi, the main character, member of the Parsi community, grew up in an apartment building in Bombay, India, went to an English school, listened to My fair lady in his youth and emigrated to Canada. In order to bring light to the question what causes Kersi to have problems with his eye-sight and to examine if he really resembles Tiresias the following term paper tries to analyze the protagonist’s identity.
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) Main Part
2.1) Theories
2.2) Theories applied on the story
2.2.1) Présence Parsianne
2.2.2) Présence Indienne
2.2.3) Présence Européenne
2.2.4) Présence Américaine
2.3) Kersi as an hybrid identity
3) Conclusion
3.1) Hybridity as a problem
3.2) Hybridity as a resource
Research Objective and Key Themes
This paper examines the construction of identity in Rohinton Mistry’s short stories “Lend me your Light” and “Swimming Lessons”, specifically focusing on the protagonist Kersi’s struggle with hybridity in the diaspora. It investigates how postcolonial concepts of identity, interpreted through Stuart Hall’s model of "présences," explain the protagonist's feelings of alienation and his eventual transition toward accepting his identity.
- Analysis of identity construction through postcolonial theoretical frameworks.
- Application of Stuart Hall’s concept of "présences" to characterize diaspora experiences.
- The symbolism of eye-sight and the metaphor of dark glasses in the context of cultural displacement.
- The contrast between viewing hybridity as a debilitating problem versus a resourceful tool.
- Comparison of the protagonist’s journey with the classical figure of Tiresias.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2) Hybridity as a resource
As we have seen Kersi may physically set foot on Canada but mentally he did not arrive at all. Only in the end when he decides to take swimming lessons, which is featured in another story in the same story cycle, only when he is saying “The world outside the water I have seen a lot of, it is now time to see what is inside” (Mistry 301) Kersi take things into his own hands, dives into his new life and, as we can assume, finally takes off the sunglasses (cf. Davis 89).
This notion of Persi gaining a `periscopic view` shows that he finally takes off the sunglasses, perceives the world in all its colors, perceives not only the brightness but also light that helps him finding his way, and starts to see and use his hybridity as a resource. Secondly, of course, it shows that he opens up again and `dives` into Canada, into a new element symbolizing a new life. The symbol of diving as such shows that full of verve and self-confidence he leaves his position as a quiet observer and becomes actively involved in his life and the new surroundings. This is shown for example when he decides to find out the names of his neighbors to better take part in the life in his new apartment building. Diving in a bathtub does not seem that remarkable and active than diving in a real swimming pool but it might stand for the beginning of a new Kersi who finally came to terms with his identity.
The moment he starts taking his own decisions and acting on his own, he starts being an active part of his new home. To work as an hybrid identity and to really arrive at a new culture one needs to be willing to berth, to connect and to be willing to actively take part in this process of finding a new home. Therefore successfully living as an hybrid identity and diving into other cultures means being open for new présences which means on one hand being open for change (cf. Genetsch 129) of one´s own identity and on the other hand being active and embed this new présences in his own identity without losing its traces.
Chapter Summary
1) Introduction: Sets the stage by introducing the theme of globalization and presenting the protagonist Kersi as a figure struggling with identity in the diaspora.
2) Main Part: Explores theoretical concepts of identity and applies them to the character's background and his various cultural influences.
2.1) Theories: Outlines core academic definitions of individual identity and postcolonial theories regarding how identity is constructed via binary oppositions.
2.2) Theories applied on the story: Contextualizes the short story within the framework of identity construction in diaspora situations.
2.2.1) Présence Parsianne: Analyzes the Parsi community's historical experience of migration and its influence on the protagonist.
2.2.2) Présence Indienne: Discusses the shifting notions of India as a homeland for the characters in the story.
2.2.3) Présence Européenne: Examines the legacy of British colonialism and its enduring psychological impact on the colonized.
2.2.4) Présence Américaine: Explores the allure of Western lifestyles and the myth of the "American dream" for those in the diaspora.
2.3) Kersi as an hybrid identity: Synthesizes the various influences to depict Kersi’s complex and often conflicting identity as a hybrid subject.
3) Conclusion: Summarizes the protagonist's journey and his ultimate resolution regarding his identity.
3.1) Hybridity as a problem: Analyzes why the protagonist initially views his hybridity as a source of blindness and identity confusion.
3.2) Hybridity as a resource: Explains how the protagonist eventually reinterprets his hybrid state as a tool for personal growth and adaptation.
Keywords
Postcolonialism, Identity Construction, Diaspora, Rohinton Mistry, Hybridity, Présences, Stuart Hall, Kersi, Cultural Displacement, Assimilation, Tiresias, Globalization, Parsi, Canada, Migration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this academic paper?
The paper explores the construction of individual identity in the context of postcolonialism and diaspora, using Rohinton Mistry’s short stories as a case study for the psychological challenges of living between different cultures.
Which specific themes are addressed?
The central themes include cultural identity, the effects of colonization on the mind, the "dilemma of the global soul," and the process of reconciling one's past with a new, foreign environment.
What is the primary research objective?
The goal is to analyze the protagonist Kersi’s identity crisis, explain his metaphorical "blindness," and determine how he eventually shifts his perspective to accept his hybrid identity.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses postcolonial literary criticism, specifically applying Stuart Hall’s concept of "présences" (layers of identity) and Derrida's notion of "différance" to analyze the character's development.
What does the main body discuss?
The main body breaks down the different cultural and historical influences (Parsi, Indian, European, American) acting upon the protagonist and assesses how these contribute to his initial confusion and later development.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Diaspora, Hybridity, Identity Construction, Postcolonial Literature, and Cultural Adaptation.
Why does the protagonist wear "dark glasses"?
The dark glasses serve as a metaphor for the protagonist's psychological defense mechanism; he uses them to shield himself from the overwhelming "brightness" or complexity of a new culture that he is not yet ready to embrace.
Who is the character "Percy" and why is he mentioned?
Percy is the protagonist's brother, who represents a contrast to the protagonist; unlike the protagonist, who withdraws, Percy engages actively with Indian society, serving as a "light-bringer" who finds his place without needing external validation.
How does the author interpret the title "Lend me your Light"?
The title is interpreted on two levels: it refers to the characters' need for enlightenment to solve their own hybrid identity struggles, and it contrasts the protagonist’s passivity with his brother Percy’s proactive engagement with reality.
What is the "periscopic view"?
The "periscopic view" is a metaphorical term used by the author to describe the protagonist's final state, where he finally takes off his "dark glasses" and is able to see his hybrid identity not as a disability, but as a resource that allows him to navigate life in all its colors.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2012, Identity construction in Rohinton Mistry’s short stories “Lend me your Light” and “Swimming Lessons”, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/376372
