Applications of Language Studies
A semiannual International Research Journal

Negotiating the In-Between: Hybrid Identities and Postcolonial Displacement in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

behzad pourgharib 1
Mehrgan Rezaeian 2

1 , Associate Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. Email: b.pourgharib@umz.ac.ir.

2 PhD student in English Language and Literature, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran

10.22034/jals.2025.2062447.1085
Abstract
This study examines the themes of hybrid identities and postcolonial displacement in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies, focusing on the liminal experiences of diasporic characters. Set against the backdrop of contemporary postcolonial literature, the research explores how Lahiri’s narratives articulate the complexities of cultural negotiation, belonging, and unhomeliness. The aim is to analyze how Lahiri’s characters embody Homi K. Bhabha’s theories of hybridity and the "Third Space," highlighting their struggles and adaptations in transcultural contexts. The methodology involves a close textual analysis of selected stories, particularly "Mrs. Sen’s," alongside theoretical frameworks from postcolonial studies, including Bhabha’s concepts of liminality and cultural translation. The discussion reveals how characters navigate their in-between identities, oscillating between assimilation and cultural retention, and how Lahiri’s hybrid storytelling challenges monolithic cultural representations. The findings underscore the dual nature of liminality as both a source of conflict and a catalyst for hybrid identity formation. The conclusion emphasizes Lahiri’s contribution to postcolonial discourse by portraying diasporic experiences as fluid and transformative. Ultimately, the study highlights the resilience of Lahiri’s characters in negotiating displacement, offering a nuanced understanding of identity in a globalized world.

Keywords

Diaspora
Postcolonial Displacement
in-betweenness
hybridity
Liminality

Subjects

Applications of Language Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 03 September 2025

  • Receive Date 03 June 2025
  • Revise Date 03 September 2025
  • Accept Date 03 September 2025

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