Negotiating Identity: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Postcolonial Themes in Pakistani Literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14562664Keywords:
Postcolonial Literature, Critical Discourse Analysis, Identity Negotiation, Cultural HybridityAbstract
This study critically examines the representation of identity and postcolonial themes in Pakistani literature through the lens of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). Using Norman Fairclough's three-dimensional model of CDA, the research explores selected texts by prominent Pakistani authors, including The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, Cracking India by Bapsi Sidhwa, and Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie. The study focuses on key postcolonial concepts such as cultural hybridity, identity crisis, power dynamics, and resistance against colonial legacies. The findings reveal that Pakistani literature employs specific linguistic strategies, including symbolism, multivocal discourse, and fragmented narratives, to articulate the struggles of identity negotiation in a postcolonial world. Through these texts, Pakistani authors challenge dominant colonial discourses, reclaim indigenous histories, and reflect on the sociopolitical transformations shaping modern Pakistan. The research underscores the role of literature as a powerful medium for asserting cultural identities, amplifying marginalized voices, and addressing the lingering effects of colonialism.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Muhammad Haseeb Nawaz, Aber Nasia, Hira Munir, Muhammad Abubakar, Muhammad Urbi Rabban
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