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ZENODO
Part of book or chapter of book . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Part of book or chapter of book . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Part of book or chapter of book . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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EXILE, ALIENATION, AND THE IDENTITY CRISIS IN V.S. NAIPAUL'S THE MIMIC MEN

Authors: L. Komathi; R. Ramya;

EXILE, ALIENATION, AND THE IDENTITY CRISIS IN V.S. NAIPAUL'S THE MIMIC MEN

Abstract

V.S. Naipaul’s ‘The Mimic men’ is a significant examination of postcolonial exile and psychological disintegration following imperial domination. This paper analyzes how the novel expresses the intricate relationship between exile, alienation, and identity crises through the protagonist, Ralph Singh a colonial subject transformed into a reluctant exile in London. Singh's dislocation is both geographical and existential, exposing a profound crisis of identity rooted on mimicry, cultural disinheritance, and the lack of a secure motherland. This study employs postcolonial theory, namely Homi Bhabha’s notion of mimicry and Edward Said’s insights on exile, to examine how Naipaul formulates Singh’s tale as a metaphor for the fragmented postcolonial identity. The story depicts exile as both a physical departure from one’s homeland and a condition of psychological fragmentation characterized by displacement, yearning, and the inability to harmonize the past with the present. ‘The Mimic men’ illustrates Singh’s journey of introspection and political disengagement, serving as a prism to see the broader plight of the colonial intellectual in exile unmoored, disenchanted, and stranded between disparate realms. This study highlights Naipaul's intricate critique of postcolonial nationhood and the lasting influence of colonial history on individual and community identity.

Keywords

Diaspora, Postcolonial identity, Colonial legacy, Exile, Alienation, Psychological displacement, Cultural dislocation

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green