Colonialism In Desai's Inheritance Of Loss

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“Gradually the vapor replaced everything with itself, slid objects shadow, and nothing remained that did not seem molded from or inspired by it” (Desai, 2) this quote on the surface describes the environment. But in the larger context of the novel is symbolic and foreshadows the events to be discussed at length in the novel. In Inheritance of Loss Desai discusses at length the consequences of race, class, gender in the larger scope of colonialism. In discussing these issue Desai encourages readers to adopt a postcolonial lens in understanding the characters plight as revealed in the novel. The judge in the inheritance of loss is an ostensibly well-developed character however he is also a clear depiction of the results of colonization. He irrevocably demonstrates characteristics of double consciousness and suffers from the various forms of prejudice that he experiences and becomes a victim, consequence of his abuse he intern becomes an abusive man. In the judge we recognize clear signs of his mental breakdown; he uses projection as a coping mechanism to deal with the horrible discrimination he was made to contend with …show more content…

The process of discrimination through the characters journey in the novel is ostensibly a damaging one. It is arguably a snow ball effect where what might seem a trivial action, debatably the discrimination experienced by the judge was that felt by several others and we see the results of that in the story of his life. Now we are forced to fathom the possibility of 5 fifty other Jemubhai and their wives and families that suffered due to their own suffering. How horrible this discrimination must be and continues to be. This is precisely what writers like Desai strive to do in their novels. They attempt to create awareness of the toxic past in hopes of paving a pleasant future for

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