The Search for Selfhood: Identity Crisis in Monica Ali's Novel , Brick Lane

Abstract

Monica Ali’s Brick Lane traces the tangles between identity and selfhood in the contexts of cultural assimilation and personal autonomy. The novel follows Nazneen, a Bangladeshi immigrant living in London, whose life is a work in progress as she navigates a conflict between what she believes about herself and the responsibilities she expects of her and the heritage all immigrants must carry. This article investigates the theme of identity crisis in Brick Lane that characterizes the protagonist’s journey to self realization by forces both external forces and internal conflicts. The paper discusses the intersection of cultural displacement, gender role and the immigrant experience using postcolonial theory, arguing that the protagonist’s quest for empowerment and belonging can be gauged. Through Ali’s portrayal of Nazneen’s transformation we as readers are able to witness the universal struggle of the oppressed to find their selves in a globalized universe of identity.