This paper analyses Prajwal Parajuly's short stories "The Gurkha's Daughter".
In "The Gurkha’s Daughter" (2012), Parajuly concerns characters survival through cultural practices between Nepali and English convention as hybridity in a host country. The characters of these stories immigrate to the host country with some purpose where they develop hybrid cultural space. They seem to have difficulty in coping with the host culture and the country because of which they start to negotiate and adapt new language, behavior, religion, lifestyle, relationship etc.
In order to show the presence of hybrid cultural space, different hybrid elements from the stories were identified and reasoned for hybridity. Hybrid is a word termed by Homi K. Bhabha which gives rise to new and unidentifiable cultural identity that has negotiation of meaning and representation. Hybridity is a product of adaptation and negotiation that is developed by immigrants in a host country for acceptance by the host community or for survival.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- Chapter 1: Introduction
- Chapter 2: Author Background and Textual Context
- Chapter 3: Overview of The Gurkha's Daughter
- Chapter 4: Analysis of Selected Stories
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the concept of hybridity as a survival strategy for immigrants in Prajwal Parajuly's The Gurkha's Daughter. It analyzes how characters negotiate and adapt to new cultural contexts, focusing on the interplay between Nepali and English cultural conventions. The study utilizes Homi K. Bhabha's concept of hybridity to understand the creation of new cultural identities within the host country.
- Hybridity as a survival mechanism for immigrants
- Negotiation and adaptation of cultural norms and values
- The interplay between Nepali and English cultural conventions
- The representation of diaspora and identity in Parajuly's work
- Exploration of cultural practices and their significance
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's focus on hybridity in Prajwal Parajuly's The Gurkha's Daughter. It highlights the author's depiction of immigrant experiences and the challenges of cultural adaptation. The chapter introduces the concept of hybridity, drawing on Homi K. Bhabha's work, and frames the subsequent analysis of selected short stories. The overarching theme of survival through cultural negotiation is established as the central focus of the research.
Chapter 2: Author Background and Textual Context: This section provides biographical details about Prajwal Parajuly, highlighting his own hybrid background as an Indian-Nepali author. It contextualizes The Gurkha's Daughter within contemporary literature, emphasizing its focus on real-life issues and the complexities of immigrant experiences. The discussion of Parajuly's background emphasizes the authenticity and personal connection to the themes explored in his work.
Chapter 3: Overview of The Gurkha's Daughter: This chapter offers a general overview of Parajuly's short story collection, The Gurkha's Daughter, summarizing the different geographical settings and thematic concerns prevalent throughout the eight stories. It introduces the diversity of experiences and situations addressed in the book and explains the selection of three specific stories for in-depth analysis in the following chapter. The focus is on the unifying themes that connect these seemingly diverse narratives.
Chapter 4: Analysis of Selected Stories: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of three selected short stories from The Gurkha's Daughter: "The Cleft," "Missed Blessing," and "The Immigrants." It examines how each story illustrates the concept of hybridity through the characters' experiences of adaptation and negotiation in their respective host countries. Specific examples of cultural blending, language shifts, and identity formation are explored, linking back to the theoretical framework of hybridity introduced earlier.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Hybridity, cultural negotiation, adaptation, immigrant experience, diaspora, Nepali culture, English culture, survival, identity, Prajwal Parajuly, The Gurkha's Daughter, Homi K. Bhabha.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Gurkha's Daughter - A Study of Hybridity
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the concept of hybridity as a survival strategy for immigrants in Prajwal Parajuly's short story collection, The Gurkha's Daughter. It examines how characters negotiate and adapt to new cultural contexts, specifically focusing on the interplay between Nepali and English cultural conventions.
What theoretical framework is used in the analysis?
The paper utilizes Homi K. Bhabha's concept of hybridity to understand the creation of new cultural identities within the host country. This framework helps to analyze the characters' experiences of cultural blending, language shifts, and identity formation.
Which stories from The Gurkha's Daughter are analyzed in detail?
The paper provides an in-depth analysis of three specific short stories: "The Cleft," "Missed Blessing," and "The Immigrants." These stories are selected to illustrate different aspects of hybridity and the challenges of cultural adaptation.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include hybridity as a survival mechanism for immigrants, the negotiation and adaptation of cultural norms and values, the interplay between Nepali and English cultural conventions, the representation of diaspora and identity in Parajuly's work, and the exploration of cultural practices and their significance.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into four chapters: an introduction setting the scene and introducing the theoretical framework; a chapter exploring the author's background and the textual context of The Gurkha's Daughter; an overview of the short story collection itself; and finally, a detailed analysis of the selected stories.
What information is provided about Prajwal Parajuly?
The paper includes biographical details about Prajwal Parajuly, emphasizing his own hybrid background as an Indian-Nepali author. This contextualizes his work and highlights the authenticity of his depiction of immigrant experiences.
What is the overall aim of the research?
The overarching aim is to understand how hybridity functions as a means of survival for immigrants, demonstrated through the specific examples and narratives presented in The Gurkha's Daughter. The paper seeks to highlight the complexities of cultural adaptation and the formation of new identities in a globalized world.
What are the key words associated with this research?
Key words include: Hybridity, cultural negotiation, adaptation, immigrant experience, diaspora, Nepali culture, English culture, survival, identity, Prajwal Parajuly, The Gurkha's Daughter, Homi K. Bhabha.
- Quote paper
- Surendra Shah (Author), 2019, An Analysis of Hybridity in Prajwal Parajuly's "The Gurkha's Daughter", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/512212
