Transnational Alienation in Thapa’s Seasons of Flight and Adichie’s Americanah
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of English
Abstract
This research project uses Manjushree Thapa’s Seasons of Flight and
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah attempting to explore the concept of
transnational alienation in their characters. For this, the researcher employs the
transnational perspective as a part of the umbrella term: globalization. The migrant
protagonists, Prema from Thapa’s Seasons of Flight,and Ifemelu from Adichie’s
Americanahgo to America intending to get a better job, independent lifestyle, sound
security, and other opportunities. But they do not find their wish come to reality the
way they had expected. They do not feel comfortable adjusting to the new
environment and the people there. The reality for them in America goes beyond their
expectation. Crossing different national territories these migrants reach the host
country with big dreams, but after experiencing all the odds there, they desire to
return to their home country. On the other hand, they are unable to live comfortably in
the host country due to the sense of nostalgia towards their home country. When
migrants cross the transnational borders, they concern with new identity, language,
cultures, and practices. They try to adopt the socio-cultural practices of the host
country. But they are unable to erase the cultural memory of their homeland as well.
By the time they face the reality, neither do they return to their origin, nor do they
become able to adopt the culture of the host country. So, they develop the sense of
dislocatedness there in the host country and also they find it tough to assimilate with
the culture there. They neither remain in the host country peacefully nor do they find
the return to the homeland an easy one. As a result, the protagonists feel being the
victim of transnational alienation whether in the host country or they return tothe land
of their origin.
Description
Keywords
Transnational migrants, Cultural translation