Identity in the Context of Migrancy in Kiran Desai’s the Inheritance of Loss

Abstract

The Inheritance of Loss spells out the tragic ramifications of power inequalities, class-based exploitation and broken values that are embedded in the fate of the novel’s characters, and shared by millions of people around the world. Therefore, the novel illustrates the interplay between different categories of influence and identity in the context of migrancy and diaspora. Kiran Desai, in The Inheritance of Loss, addresses variety of identity crises issues such as cultural hybridity, nationalism, identity and the connection between place and culture. Most characters of the novel experience great influence of the non-native culture. The author shows various aspects of the split identity on a different life stories faced by people who are trying to face a strong foreign influences and the characters of the novel are representatives of various issues regarding confused identities.