Constructing The Third Space In Hybridity

With the rise of minority ethnic literature over the past decades,researchers have increasingly focused on studies related to Asian-American literature.In recent years,Indian American literature has gained growing attention with the endeavor of Indian-American writers.Among them,Jhumpa Lahiri is acclaimed as one of the most renowned American ethnic writers.Jhumpa Lahiri won her popularity by virtue of her debut short story collection Interpreter of Maladies that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1998.Her second collection of short stories,Unaccustomed Earth,was released in 2008,which became number one on New York Times Book Review List of “10 Best Books of 2008”.The two short story collections both portray the dilemmas of the life of immigrants from India.This thesis aims to analyze the identity plight of immigrants from India and investigate how they struggle to construct the third space.Based on the hybridity and the third space theory of Homi Bhabha,this thesis will elaborate on the identity reconstruction of South Asian Americans.The immigrants were traumatized by identity plight that was caused by racial discrimination.The racial trauma motivated immigrants to construct the third space.The thesis will analyze the immigrants’ trauma in America from the perspective of men,women and kids respectively.As we know,the identity issue is of great significance for immigrants.Hybridity plays an important role in the construction of third space.As a strategy,the hybridity in culture,race and identity is of great significance to the construction of third space.Identity reconstruction needs a long way to go and the postcolonial critics believe firmly the hybrid third space will benefit all world citizens.For those who are emigrated from home country,they will be accustomed to the new land and become hybrid subjects in culture,race and identity.The construction of third space is not only of great significance to the protagonists in Lahiri’s works but also has practical implications for the interrelationships among modern people.First,the traditional binary oppositions are deconstructed.Studying Lahiri’s two short story collections from the perspective of hybridity and third space endows the texts with inspirational interpretation.Second,the development of globalization makes the world smaller and smaller.The conflicting and diverse values weaken the personal relationship in the 21 st century.For people from different civilizations,their mutual tolerance and understanding are the most proper ways to deal with conflicts and realize cultural integration.Last,historically,simplified binary-opposition thinking got the nations into the mire of conflicts.Although dramatic changes have been made technically,wars still exit in some parts of the world.It is not a self and other pattern between different cultures.We are calling for voice of peace and co-existence.Openness and inclusiveness will contribute to cross pride and prejudice among the world.Therefore,the construction of the third space has implications for modern people to deconstruct the western hegemony and realize cultural harmonization.