Motives of Mimicry in Philip Roth's The Human Stain

Abstract

This research work explores the issue of cultural transformation of the people for the reconstruction of identity and live a free, honored and successful life. Nobody is superior or inferior by the racial background he or she has but it is the ability and talent to perform the work. Roth's hero Coleman Silk gets tired of identifying with his group- Negroes who were negatively judged on the basis of their race- discriminated and also deprived from opportunities being a Black person. For the reconstruction of his identity, to get rid of domination in the name of cultural background, to champion freedom with due honor in his life and also due to the effect of cultural hegemony, he abandons his racial/cultural identity and mimics the Whites. Identity for him is not the fixed thing that history and culture decides but it is fluid and flexible which can be constructed by the personal effort. Therefore, he utilizes mimicry as the means to upward social mobility and financial success. In this research, issues of mimicry have been analyzed with the theoretical insights from Homi K Bhabha, the concept of hegemony with Antonio Gramsci's notion, identity related issues have been discussed with Henry Tajfel's concept of identity. Therefore, this paper explores the different factors causing people for changing their identity by mimicry.