Мультикультурна ідентичність у сучасній англомовній художній літературі

Анотація

У статті розглядається питання висвітлення сучасної мультикультурної ідентичності у художній полікультурній літературі. Розглянуто опозицію «свій-чужий» як головну для поняття ідентичності, а також виділено основні групи маркерів ідентичності. Проаналізовані фактори, які впливають на існування мультикультурної ідентичності, та прослідковано їх втілення у художньому тексті.

The article is focused on the representation of the phenomenon of multicultural identity in modern English cross-cultural literature. Literary texts are seen as one of the main tools of reflecting the identity, especially when it is depicted in the cross-cultural texts. Such texts bring to the forefront the concepts of “split” consciousness, cross-cultural (multicultural) identity, self-identification, sense of belonging. They bring to life the topics of belonging, of one’s own otherness that are revealed thanks to “the century of the great experiment” (Z. Smith). The opposition “we”–“they” is the key structure of the social world and the foundation stone of the concept of identity as any identity obtains its distinctive features when seen in comparison with another identity, the process of self-identification needs the figure of “them” as opposed to “us”.

It’s really quite natural to presume that the sense of belonging should be determined by some unifying markers or markers of identity that will allow to bring people together or to exclude them from the group. On the basis of the numerous definitions of identity we have structured the information and singled out the key words around which the definition is built, and have arranged them in 3 large groups which contain as their constituents the key elements of identity. Among them are values, myths, language, traditions, symbols, memories. Some markers are constant, some, like symbols, myths, values etc. are changeable and determined by other markers (e.g. language or religion). Depending on the situation these markers can be regarded as either something very important or less significant thus making the concept of identity quite flexible.

In the novels the process of formation of multicultural identity is accompanied and characterized by a number of factors, such as the state of struggle that is reinforced by the stereotypes and expectations of other people (“personal-relational identity gap”); the feelings of “in-betweenness” and uncertainty that are shown through the variety of  metaphors and comparisons (e.g. the country as a mirror and the characters without reflection in it; Zulfikar, a double-edged sword; chameleon as a symbol of variability). Language is seen as one of the most efficient ways and a flexible tool of defining one's own identity (e.g. faking the accent or pronunciation in order to meet expectations of other people or show one's belonging to the “us” group). The concept of “Englishness” appears as the embodiment of “otherness”, as the criterion according to which the things are compared or opposed to. It can be seen as something desired, absolutely required for one’s own sense of wholeness or as something completely opposite – strange and hostile.