Literary Druid
A Peer-Reviewed International Journal of English Language and Literature
Volume- 7, Issue- 2, April-2025
1. Reflection of Cultural Tensions and Collisions in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane
Dr. U. Aishwarya, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College,
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract
The present study delves into the understanding of cultural attributes that predominate in shaping and determining an individual’s behaviour, lifestyle and identity through reading the novel Brick Lane by Monica. Comprehending one's cultural heritage, background, and identity necessitates acknowledging the cultural factors that mould individual viewpoints and conduct. This study examines how the writer incorporates cultural knowledge into her novel to create characters, themes, and settings that reflect the diversity of human experience. Further, the research explores the text's capacity for cultural consciousness to alter, illuminating how it subverts preconceptions, dismantles obstacles, and fosters inclusion. The study also attempts to pinpoint recurrent themes and innovative techniques used by the author to imbue her narrative with a deeper cultural awareness. The novel Brick Lane, written by Monica Ali, delves deeply into the concept of diaspora and its challenge and the narrative techniques reveal various aspects of the cultural divide. It is crucial to recognize the influence of cultural consciousness in literary text as it develops in tandem with a global society that is becoming more linked. The study contributes to the present discourse about the affiliation between literature and cultural consciousness by highlighting the role that narratives play in cultivating comprehensive and enlightened perspectives.
Keywords: Cultural Consciousness, Diaspora, Identity, Narrative Technique.
2. Colonial Impact on Culture and Environment as Envisaged in
Wangari Maathai’s Unbowed
Dr J. Cenu Nair, Associate Professor, Department of English, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil, India.
Abstract
Wangari Maathai's “Unbowed” is not only an autobiography but also a powerful testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit. Her life story inspires readers to recognise the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability, social justice and human rights. Through her memoir, Maathai continues to take action in protecting the environment and advocating for a fairer, more just world. The book offers valuable lessons on leadership, perseverance and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs, regardless of the obstacles encountered along the way. On receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, Maathai says how good governance, respect for human rights, equity and peace are of particular concern in Africa – a continent that is so rich in resources and yet has been so ravaged by wars. She advises people to continue working on saving the environment.
Keywords: Colonial impact, Culture, Environment, Sustainability, Wangari Maathai.
3. Exploration of Indigenous Philosophy and Literature in Indian Perspective
Dr. Rekha Tiwari, Professor, Department of English,
Techno India NJR Institute of Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Abstract
This paper explores the rich and diverse traditions of Indigenous philosophy and literature in India. It focus on the unique perspectives, ideas and cultural expressions of the Indigenous people of India reflected in the works of Indian writers and thinkers. By examining the key themes, texts and ideas of Indian thinkers, this study highlights the contributions of Indigenous knowledge systems to global philosophical and literary discourses to academic merit. Indigenous philosophy and literature in India offer profound insights and show how Indigenous people understand the world, human relationships and the natural environment. It studies on the methods they followed to live close with nature. Their lives are portrayed in oral histories, myths, and memoirs of India and are passed down through generations. Now, they are reflected in the writings of our modern writers and thinkers. These traditions provide alternative ways of thinking that emphasize interconnectedness, relation and respect for the natural world. So, this paper aims to elucidate the key principles of Indigenous philosophy and examine how these principles are reflected in Indigenous literature of India.
Keywords: Exploration, Indigenous Wisdom, Philosophy, Literature, Indian.
4. Transformative Integration of Identity and Place: A Feminist Reading of Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee
Stacey L. Mascia-Susice, Professor of English, Humanities Department, Circus and Sideshow Scholar, North Country Community College, 75 William Street, Malone, New York-12953..
Abstract
The academic discourse attributed to feminist criticism is both rich and revealing. With each new feminist reading, it becomes clear that we need to continue the discussions relevant to our gender. In a feminist critical analysis of Bharati Mukherjee’s novel, Jasmine, there is much evidence of themes such as identity, naming and place. In this brilliant work of autobiographical fiction, or what many creative writers term as creative non-fiction, Mukherjee pulls the veil away from the face of her protagonist, Jasmine, and through the shifting identities of her character, we observe her as named by the men she becomes involved with throughout her quest for a true, single identity. Whether or not she finally attains this singular identity is vague, as the novel ends with her leaving to reassume one of the names given to her earlier in the journey...
Keywords: Identity, Feminist Reading, Jasmine, Bharati Mukerjee.