"The inclusion of Indian American authors into the genre of Asian American literature is widely discussed and criticized. In my opinion as well as in the view of a great amount of other people, ''Asian American literature' is not an ethically or nationally bound category of writing. Instead, it is a term which is used to refer to texts written by North American writers of Asian descent.' This is the reason why I have chosen works by Bharati Mukherjee and Meera Nair for the following analysis. Both writers are born in India, both immigrated to the United States of America, both deal with 'the urgent negotiation and re-negotiation of the problematics of gendered, ethicised and nationalised identity.' However, either one of them reveals a different attitude towards their home country, uses a different language style and enjoys different success. (...)"
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Authors – Presenting Bharati Mukherjee and Meera Nair
2.1 Bharati Mukherjee
2.2 Meera Nair
3 The Stories – “The Management of Grief” and “Video”
3.1 Brief Summary on “The Management of Grief” by Bharati Mukherjee
3.2 Historical Facts on “The Management of Grief”
3.3 Brief Summary on “Video” by Meera Nair
3.4 Analysis of “The Management of Grief” and “Video”
3.4.1 Silence – A Synonym for Submissiveness or Superiority?
3.4.2 Western Intruders into the Asian World
3.4.3 Indianness vs. Indianizing
3.4.3.1 Indianizing through Language
3.4.3.2 Depiction of India
3.4.3.3 Ghettoization
3.4.3.4 Indian Food and Clothes
3.4.3.5 Indian customs
3.4.3.6 Relationship between Sikhs and Hindus
4 Conclusion
5 Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the intersection of identity, trauma, and cultural representation in the works of South Asian American authors Bharati Mukherjee and Meera Nair. The primary objective is to analyze how these writers depict the immigrant experience and the negotiation of identity in the United States, specifically through the lens of gender roles, the silencing of women, and the influence of Western cultural values on traditional Indian societies.
- The role of silence as a mechanism of resistance or oppression in women’s narratives.
- The impact of Western sociocultural intrusions on the stability of Indian marriage and customs.
- Methods of "Indianizing" literary texts to convey cultural authenticity.
- Comparative analysis of narrative techniques and linguistic styles between Mukherjee and Nair.
- The significance of the "model minority" construct and cultural ghettoization in North American diasporic life.
Excerpt from the Book
3.4.1 Silence – A Synonym for Submissiveness or Superiority?
The opinions concerning the use of silence in stories diverge from a “wide-spread Anglo-American assumption […] that silence is synonymous with submissiveness and passivity” to the statement that “Asian American women writers [are] manifesting a particular emphasis upon the important of silence as a strategic weapon against oppression.”
The authors of both stories put a great emphasis on the aspect of silence. In which way their use of silence confirms or disclaims the mentioned statements shall be analysed in the following paragraph.
“The Management of Grief” starts out with a very silent atmosphere. People have gathered in the main character’s kitchen, trying not to make any noise, they are “whispering, and moving tactfully” (p. 329). In the course of the text, the words “calm(ly)” and “calmness” are repeated several times (cf. pp. 330-333, 336). Shaila Bhave is caught in a “deadening quiet” (p. 330) and her friend Kusum is “pursuing inner peace” (p. 340).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the research, discussing the inclusion of Indian American writers in Asian American literature and identifying the central comparative focus on the works of Bharati Mukherjee and Meera Nair.
2 The Authors – Presenting Bharati Mukherjee and Meera Nair: This section provides biographical background for both authors, contrasting Mukherjee’s anglicized educational background and early immigration with Nair’s later life transition to the United States.
3 The Stories – “The Management of Grief” and “Video”: This extensive chapter provides detailed plot summaries of the two selected short stories and presents a thematic analysis focusing on silence, Western influence, Indianness, and religious relations.
4 Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the analytical findings, arguing that Mukherjee’s work achieves greater success in balancing cultural criticism and artistic expression compared to Nair’s more polarized approach.
5 Bibliography: This chapter serves as the comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources, including literary critiques and internet research material utilized throughout the paper.
Keywords
South Asian American Literature, Bharati Mukherjee, Meera Nair, Identity Negotiation, Gender Roles, Cultural Assimilation, Indianness, Diaspora, Silence, Western Influence, The Management of Grief, Video, Immigrant Experience, Ghettoization, Sikh-Hindu Relations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper performs a comparative literary analysis of two short stories, Bharati Mukherjee’s "The Management of Grief" and Meera Nair’s "Video," to explore how South Asian American authors negotiate issues of identity and cultural background.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the silencing of women's voices, the impact of Western sociocultural influence on Indian customs, the concept of ghettoization, and the representation of cultural authenticity.
What is the core research question?
The paper seeks to answer whether an expatriate writer is distanced from their Indian roots to the point of inaccuracy, or if that distance provides a unique objectivity that allows for a more detailed and accurate portrayal of Indian life.
Which methodology does the author apply?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis approach, examining narrative techniques, point-of-view choices, and linguistic stylistic devices to contrast how both authors translate the experience of Indian culture into an English-speaking literary framework.
What topics are discussed in the main analysis?
The analysis investigates the symbolic use of silence as a weapon, the depiction of Western culture as an intruder, the linguistic strategies used to "Indianize" stories, and the portrayal of religious relations between Hindus and Sikhs.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include South Asian American Literature, identity negotiation, diaspora, cultural assimilation, and the "model minority" construct.
How does the author interpret the name "Shaila Bhave"?
The author suggests that the name, while Indian, phonetically resembles the English verb "behave," which perfectly matches the protagonist’s constrained and composed character traits throughout the story.
Why is "The Management of Grief" considered to be more successful than "Video"?
The author argues that Mukherjee’s earlier relocation to the West and her advanced linguistic mastery allowed her to maintain a "special objectivity" in her writing, whereas Nair’s work is perceived to be less balanced and occasionally relies on caricatured representations.
- Quote paper
- Sonja Blum (Author), 2007, South Asian American Literature - Comparing Bharati Mukherjee's "The Management of Grief" and Meera Nair's "Video", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/87288
