Cultural Cross Currents and Dysfunctionality : A Psychoanalytical Study of the Characters of “Esmond in India”
Cultural Cross Currents and Dysfunctionality : A Psychoanalytical Study of the Characters of "Esmond in India" A Novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
"Cultural Cross Currents and Dysfunctionality" presents a critical examination of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's novel, "Esmond in India." The analysis delves into the characters who, upon encountering a foreign culture, experience delusions. While cultural encounters often result in an array of challenges such as identity crises, rootlessness, alienation, and isolation, the book argues that the ultimate outcome is a form of cultural enrichment that fosters a renewed love for one's own cultural roots.
URL: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09M9Z8CD7?ref_=k4w_oembed_5gBuEzSXPxeE0s&tag=kpembed-20&linkCode=kpd
Author: Dr. Vandana Sharma
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A Psychoanalytical Study of the Characters of “Esmond in India” A Novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
“Cultural Cross Currents and Dysfunctionality” presents a critical examination of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s novel, “Esmond in India.” The analysis delves into the characters who, upon encountering a foreign culture, experience delusions. While cultural encounters often result in an array of challenges such as identity crises, rootlessness, alienation, and isolation, the book argues that the ultimate outcome is a form of cultural enrichment that fosters a renewed love for one’s own cultural roots.
The Freudian framework employed in the book exposes the surface-level anglicization and hollow Anglophilia, revealing that the cultural crosscurrents are not inherently creative but instead lead to dysfunctionalities. The narrative emphasizes the negative impact of attempting to impose one culture’s ideologies on another in the cross-cultural discourse.
“Esmond in India” serves as a collection of case studies, portraying characters as examples of psychological malfunction and dysfunction within the upper-middle-class. The focus remains on unraveling the psychological baggage influenced by Western culture, resulting in a pastiche of cultural elements that contribute to the overall dysfunction portrayed in the novel.
