Postcolonial literature is often used to describe the problems and consequences of the colonization. Here, the independence of the political or cultural is important. In relation to post colonialism, the term hybridity plays also a significant role. Hybridity as such can be seen as a state in which two or more cultures convene. Since every culture has its own identity, it can be said that because of the hybridization, the identity can be lost. National identity is a crucial aspect when it comes to hybridization due to the fact that it is possible that one can lose its national identity when he or she comes in touch with another culture after colonizing.
This paper attempts to show how the author succeeded to illustrate the occurrence of hybriditization for the different characters with different cultural backgrounds and to what extent the Third Space is a tool to create new cultural experiences for the characters. First, the term hybridity will be explained in more detail and afterwards the Hybridity Theory by Bhabha (1994) will be used in order to represent hybriditization. His theory will be applied on the four main characters of the novel in Section 2.1. The next section, Section 2.2 will be used to illustrate the hybridity in the Third Space with the focus on the spaces of the villa and the desert. In Section 2.3 whether the characters still have the desire to belong to the different culture after the climax of the novel or whether they detach themselves from the hybridity they once experienced.
Table of Contents
1.Introduction
2.Presence of Hybridity Through the Characters
2.1 Cultural Hybridity in the novel The English Patient
2.2 Hybridity in the Third Space
2.3 Denial and Acceptance of Hybridity
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the concept of hybridity and the "Third Space" within Michael Ondaatje’s novel The English Patient. It explores how the four main characters, displaced by the Second World War, experience identity crises and cultural intersectionality, while evaluating the extent to which Homi K. Bhabha’s postcolonial theories can be applied to their unique situations in the desert and the villa.
- Postcolonial literature and cultural hybridity
- Application of Bhabha’s "Third Space" theory
- Identity transformation of the novel's four main characters
- Interconnection of nationality, race, and culture
- The role of the villa and the desert as transitional spaces
Excerpt from the Book
Almásy
Almásy is the main character of the novel and the person to which the title of the novel refers to. Due to the fact that the novel is written predominantly from his point of view, one can say that he is the protagonist of the novel. Beside the first person narration of the patient, there is also the omniscient narrator who has “the psychological privilege of the insight into the internal process of all characters and familiarities with their thoughts and feelings” (Nünning: 113). The plane crash in the desert was the reason that his whole body burned down and a black unidentifiable body was left. The fact that no one could recognize who he was gave him the opportunity to have the identity of the English patient. Until Chapter IX he does not reveal his actual name but introduces himself as being English although he is actually Hungarian. His character defines the other three characters in the range that they see him as a blank page with nothing written on it (cf. Banerjee: 152). It makes him more interesting and Hana looks up to him and admires him while Caravaggio has the possession to give him an identity or at least a face one can relate to. Kip on the other hand calls him Uncle and sees an authority in him with knowledge and maturity.
Summary of Chapters
1.Introduction: This chapter introduces the context of postcolonial literature and the central significance of hybridity, setting the theoretical framework for analyzing the characters in Ondaatje's work.
2.Presence of Hybridity Through the Characters: This section details how each of the four main characters navigates their individual identity crises and how the overarching theme of hybridity affects their psychological states.
2.1 Cultural Hybridity in the novel The English Patient: This chapter applies Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of hybridity and mimicry specifically to the four protagonists to illustrate how they undergo the process of hybriditization.
2.2 Hybridity in the Third Space: This section explores the concept of the "Third Space" by analyzing the villa and the desert as locations where national and cultural boundaries become insignificant.
2.3 Denial and Acceptance of Hybridity: This chapter examines the final developments of the characters, specifically whether they reconcile with their hybrid status or choose to detach themselves from their colonial experiences.
3. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes the findings, confirming that while Ondaatje successfully illustrates hybridity, Bhabha’s theory provides only a partial framework for the complex outcomes experienced by the characters.
Keywords
Hybridity, Third Space, Postcolonial Literature, Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient, National Identity, Cultural Hybridization, Bhabha, Identity Crisis, Colonialism, Mimicry, Second World War, Cultural Clash, Displacement, Migration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work focuses on the themes of hybridity and the "Third Space" in Michael Ondaatje’s novel The English Patient, analyzing how these concepts shape the identities of the four main characters.
Which theoretical framework does the author utilize?
The author primarily utilizes Homi K. Bhabha’s (1994) Hybridity Theory and the concept of the Third Space to interpret the narrative.
What is the research question addressed in this study?
The study aims to determine how the author illustrates hybriditization for characters from different backgrounds and to what extent the "Third Space" acts as a tool for creating new cultural experiences.
What is the methodology used?
The research conducts a literary analysis of the novel's characters in relation to postcolonial theories, examining their motivations, identity losses, and their interactions within specific settings like the villa and the desert.
What are the central themes discussed in the main body?
The body covers cultural hybridity, the significance of national identity, the role of mimicry, and the contrasting perceptions of the villa and the desert as spaces of transition.
Which keywords characterize this study?
The work is characterized by terms such as hybridity, Third Space, postcolonial literature, identity crisis, and cultural displacement.
How does the setting of the villa influence the characters?
The villa serves as a "Third Space" where, despite their diverse backgrounds, the characters converge and boundaries of nationality and race temporarily lose their traditional significance.
Why is the desert significant for the character of Almásy?
The desert allows Almásy to transcend his national identity, acting as a space where he can erase his past and reinvent himself, ultimately becoming a "blank page."
How do the characters ultimately react to their hybrid state?
The reactions vary; while some, like Kip, ultimately reject the hybrid experience to return to their roots in Asia, others, like Hana, maintain their detachment from traditional cultural ties until the end.
Does the author consider Bhabha’s theory a perfect fit for the novel?
The author concludes that Bhabha’s theory can only be applied partly, as the novel presents complex, specific historical transformations that remain open to various interpretations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Rashna Jennifer Qadria (Autor:in), 2018, "The English Patient". Hybridization of Culture and the Third Space in the Novel, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/595177
