Since the 1970s, there has been an increasing concern with the impact of colonialism and postcolonialism on British identities and culture and the influence that the former British Empire had and still has on people in the former colonies and in Britain today. Novels like Salman Rushdie’s "Midnight’s Children" or "The Satanic Verses", Hanif Kureishi’s "The Buddha of Suburbia", Meera Syal’s "Anita and Me", Timothy Mo’s "Sour Sweet", Sam Selvon’s "The Lonely Londoners" and Monica Ali’s "Brick Lane" along with films like "Bend it like Beckham" or TV series like "The Kumars at No. 42" and "Da Ali G Show" exemplify this rather new phenomenon and its world-wide success.
They are representative of a large group of multicultural novels and productions created during the last few decades. Although multiculturalism is not new in the media, there has been a special boom of writers of the "empire within" during the last ten years.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Great Britain and Immigration
2.1 Britain and Colonialism
2.2 White Teeth and Immigration
2.2.1 The History of Jamaica
2.2.2 The History of Bangladesh
2.2.3 The History of Jews in Britain
2.2.4 Reasons for Immigration
2.2.5 Effects of Immigration on Britain
3. Definitions and Theories
3.1 Postcolonialism
3.1.1 The Development of Postcolonialism
3.1.2 Different Aspects of Postcolonialism
3.1.3 Postcolonialism and Postmodernism
3.1.3.1 What is Postmodernism?
3.1.3.2 The Crisis of Authority
3.1.4 Postcolonialism and White Teeth
3.2 Multiculturalism
3.2.1 Definitions
3.2.1.1 What is Multiculturalism?
3.2.1.2 Prescriptive and Descriptive Multiculturalism
3.2.1.3 Ethnic Minorities and Ethnicity
3.2.2 Origins of Multiculturalism
3.2.3 Implementation of a Multicultural Policy
3.2.4 Multiculturalism: A Blessing or a Curse?
3.2.4.1 Positive Aspects of Multiculturalism
3.2.4.2 Criticism
3.2.5 The Current Situation of Multiculturalism in Britain
3.2.6 Multiculturalism and Postcolonialism
3.3 Magic Realism: Between Fiction and Reality
3.3.1 What is Magic Realism?
3.3.2 The Development of Magic Realism
3.3.3 Features and Effects of Magic Realism
3.3.4 Magic Realism and (Post)Colonialism
3.3.4.1 Special Features of Magic Realism in Connection with (Post)colonialism
3.3.4.2 Magic Realism and Hybridity
3.3.5 Magic Realism and Postmodernism
3.3.6 Hysterical Realism
3.4 Edward Said’s Orientalism
3.4.1 Introduction
3.4.2 The Influence of Foucault and Gramsci
3.4.3 Definitions of Said’s Orientalism
3.4.4 West versus East
3.4.4.1 Western Attitudes towards the East
3.4.4.2 The Dangerous East
3.4.4.3 Consequences of the East-West Division of the World
3.4.5 The Future of Orientalism
3.5 Homi Bhabha’s Concept of Hybridity
3.5.1 Introduction to Hybridity
3.5.2 History of the Term 'Hybridity'
3.5.3 Michail Bakhtin’s Influence on Homi Bhabha
3.5.4 Hybridity
3.5.4.1 Third Space
3.5.4.2 Ambivalence
3.5.4.2.1 Otherness
3.5.4.2.2 Colonial Mimicry
3.5.5 Criticism
4. Multiculturalism in White Teeth
4.1 The Quest for Identity
4.1.1 Samad Iqbal
4.1.2 Alsana Iqbal
4.1.3 The Twins Magid and Millat
4.1.3.1 Magid Iqbal
4.1.3.2 Millat Iqbal
4.1.4 Irie Jones
4.1.5 The Chalfens
4.1.6 Different Ways of Living in Multicultural Britain
4.2 The Representation of London in White Teeth
4.2.1 Immigrants in Great Britain and its Capital
4.2.1.1 Willesden Green and the North London Borough of Brent
4.2.1.2 Multiculturalism and Hybridity in Willesden Green
4.2.2 White Teeth: The Contemporary London of the 21st Century
4.3 Racism in White Teeth
4.3.1 Stereotypes
4.3.1.1 An Introduction to Stereotypes
4.3.1.2 Characteristics of Stereotypes
4.3.1.3 National Stereotypes
4.3.1.4 Racist Stereotypes
4.3.2 Racism: British People – "Immigrants"
4.3.2.1 Daily Racism
4.3.2.2 Racism at School
4.3.2.3 Racism at Work
4.3.3 Racism amongst "Immigrants"
4.3.3.1 The Chalfen Family
4.3.3.2 Family Iqbal versus Family Jones
4.3.4 The Impact of Racism on the Immigrants‘ Lives
4.3.5 Conclusion: Between Optimism and Pessimism
5. Magic Realism - Between Fiction and Reality
5.1 Magic and Unbelievable Elements
5.2 Realistic Elements and Historical Events
5.3 Style of the Novel
5.3.1 Narrator and Narrative
5.3.2 Structure
5.3.3 Language
5.3.4 Humour
5.3.5 Intertextuality
5.3.6 Title
5.3.7 Hysterical Realism
5.4 Conclusion: White Teeth and Magic Realism
6. Conclusion
7. Endgames
8. Bibliography
8.1 Text
8.2 Secondary Works
Objectives and Topics
The thesis aims to analyze Zadie Smith’s novel "White Teeth" within the context of postcolonial and multicultural British society. It explores how the author employs magic realism to depict the identities and struggles of first and second-generation immigrants in London, and investigates the influence of historical factors, race, and cultural hybridity on their lives.
- Analysis of the impact of colonialism and postcolonial history on British society.
- Examination of the literary genre of magic realism and its connection to postcolonial themes.
- Study of the formation of immigrant identities in contemporary multicultural London.
- Exploration of the role of racism and stereotypes in the social integration of immigrant families.
- Comparison of the fictional world of "White Teeth" with the historical and social reality of Britain.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1.1. Samad Iqbal
Samad and his wife Alsana settle down in London in 1973. Samad is well-educated and has a university degree in biology which is not accepted in England. Therefore, he has to work as a waiter in an Indian restaurant owned by his cousin Ardashir at Leicester Square. Samad experiences in England a feeling of displacement as he has lost his postion in society. He is frustrated and unsatisfied with his job: I AM NOT A WAITER. I HAVE BEEN A STUDENT, A SCIENTIST, A SOLDIER, MY WIFE IS CALLED ALSANA, WE LIVE IN EAST LONDON BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE NORTH. I AM A MUSLIM BUT ALLAH HAS FORSAKEN ME OR I HAVE FORSAKEN ALLAH, I’M NOT SURE. I HAVE A FRIEND – ARCHIE – AND OTHERS. I AM FORTY-NINE BUT WOMEN STILL TURN IN THE STREETS. SOMETIMES.
Although Samad came to England voluntarily, he misses Bangladesh and tries to keep up his traditions. But the longer he stays away from his country of origin, the more he gets in a conflict between Western and Eastern values. He tries to be a good Muslim but sometimes the secular temptations are stronger than his will.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the focus of the thesis on postcolonial and multicultural literature, specifically looking at Zadie Smith’s "White Teeth" as a representative novel of this phenomenon.
2. Great Britain and Immigration: Provides a historical overview of immigration to Britain, focusing on the colonial legacy and the experiences of ethnic minorities from the former colonies.
3. Definitions and Theories: Establishes theoretical foundations regarding postcolonialism, multiculturalism, and magic realism, utilizing perspectives from theorists like Edward Said and Homi Bhabha.
4. Multiculturalism in White Teeth: Analyzes the novel’s depiction of the quest for identity and the prevalence of racism among first and second-generation immigrants in London.
5. Magic Realism - Between Fiction and Reality: Examines the stylistic and narrative elements of "White Teeth," demonstrating how the genre of magic realism mediates between realistic, historical portrayals and imaginative, symbolic fiction.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the thesis, noting that while immigrants struggle between two worlds, the novel offers a hopeful, albeit realistic, portrayal of their contribution to a hybrid, multicultural British identity.
7. Endgames: Reflects on the future of race relations in Britain post-2005, emphasizing the irrelevance of divisive "cricket test" mentalities and the potential for new, hybrid identities.
8. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources used in the research, including critical literature on the novel and postcolonial theory.
Keywords
Postcolonialism, Multiculturalism, Magic Realism, Zadie Smith, White Teeth, Identity, Racism, Hybridity, Migration, London, Colonialism, Otherness, Orientalism, Homi Bhabha, Edward Said
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this thesis?
The work explores how Zadie Smith’s novel "White Teeth" reflects the complexities of postcolonial and multicultural life in contemporary London, focusing on the immigrant experience, identity formation, and the impact of the colonial legacy.
Which theoretical frameworks are applied?
The author uses postcolonial and multicultural theories, prominently drawing on Edward Said’s concepts of "Orientalism" and Homi Bhabha’s theory of "Hybridity" to analyze the characters and their environment.
What is the significance of "magic realism" in the novel?
Magic realism is used to bridge the gap between historical reality and the subjective, often surreal, experiences of immigrants living between two cultures, allowing the author to critique colonial power structures.
How is the issue of racism handled in the study?
The study examines both direct and indirect forms of racism, showing how it shapes the lives of characters through institutional, social, and personal prejudices in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
How does the "cricket test" mentioned in the text relate to the thesis?
The "cricket test" is utilized to highlight the tension regarding immigrant loyalty and the expectation of assimilation, which the author contrasts with the reality of living in a hybrid, multicultural Britain.
Why is London portrayed as a central location?
London serves as the former "center" of the British Empire, where the remnants of colonialism and the flux of global migration converge, making it the ideal setting for exploring hybrid identities.
Does the novel distinguish between generations of immigrants?
Yes, the thesis highlights significant differences between first-generation immigrants, who often cling to the traditions of their homeland, and second-generation immigrants, who navigate and embrace their hybrid identity within Britain.
What is the role of the Chalfen family in the analysis?
The Chalfens represent a white, middle-class perspective that often exhibits patronizing, "neocolonial" attitudes towards immigrant characters, serving as a foil to the struggles of the Iqbal and Jones families.
How does the author view the final outlook for British society?
The author maintains a balanced view, acknowledging current pessimism and the reality of racism, but ultimately expresses optimism that hybrid, evolving identities will become the norm for a functioning multicultural society.
- Quote paper
- Sylvia Hadjetian (Author), 2005, Multiculturalism and magic realism? Between fiction and reality, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/89208
