The Problem of Immigrant Identity In Buddha of Suburbia By Hanif Kureishi

Abstract

The present study aims to lay bare how Kureishi examines the problem of immi-grant identity in The Buddha of Suburbia. Immigrants leave their homeland vol-untarily or involuntarily to have a better life. They can neither continue their own culture nor become involved in the new culture. In Homi Bhaba's words, they experience ‘in betweenneess’. This study refers to Homi Bhabha's main ideas about hybridity, mimicry, liminality and the third space. In this study Bhabha's theories will help highlight how Kureishi's characters create liminal areas and realize their identities in these areas. For the characters in the novel, migration is a never-ending process in which they live simultaneously between the past and the present. Because they have been subjected to many discrimination such as race, language, religion, color and have always been declared ‘other’ in society. Karim is one of the major characters who suffers from being stuck in between. Although he tries to pretend to be British by rejecting the culture of his father, who is Indian, he is never accepted by the racist society in which he lives and he stays in this liminal area without an identity.

Keywords

• Migrant,identity,diaspora,feeling of unbelonging

The Problem of Immigrant Identity In Buddha of Suburbia By Hanif Kureishi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Kureishi'nin Varoşların Budası adlı eserinde göçmen kimliği soru-nuna yaklaşımını incelemektedir. Göçmenler daha iyi bir yaşam sürmek için anavatanlarını gönüllü veya istemsiz olarak terk ederler. Ne kendi kültürlerine devam edebilirler ne de yeni kültüre dâhil olabilirler. Homi Bhaba'nın deyişiyle, 'arada kalmışlık' yaşarlar. Bu çalışma Homi Bhabha'nın melezlik, taklit, liminali-te ve üçüncü alan gibi fikirlerine gönderme yapmaktadır. Bu çalışmada Bhab-ha'nın teorileri, Kureishi'nin karakterlerinin liminal alanlar yarattığını ve bu alanlardaki kimliklerini nasıl gerçekleştirdiğini vurgulamaya yardımcı olacaktır. Romandaki karakterler için göç, geçmişle bugün arasında aynı anda yaşadıkları hiç bitmeyen bir süreçtir. Çünkü ırk, dil, din, renk gibi birçok ayrımcılığa maruz kalmışlar ve toplumda daima “öteki” olarak ilan edilmişlerdir. Karim, arada sıkışmaktan muzdarip en önemli karakterlerden biridir. Hint olan baba-sının kültürünü reddederek İngilizmiş gibi davranmaya çalışsa da, içinde yaşa-dığı ırkçı toplum tarafından asla kabul edilmez ve bu liminal alanda kimliksiz bir şekilde kalır

Keywords

• Göçmen,kimlik,diaspora,aidiyetsizlik hissi

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