FRAGMENTED SELF: AN EXPLORATION OF POSTMODERNISM AND QUEST FOR IDENTITY IN THE CENTRAL CHARACTERS OF SELECTED PAKISTANI FICTION

Abstract

  This paper sheds light on the clash between the native and the foreign cultures which fragmented their individual consciousness in the scrutinizing for their individual uniformity. The current study is intended to investigate the tacit confidence in diaspora deterritorilization and its aftermaths in Pakistani literature. Modernism tried to delve into fundamental facts but did not succeed to oppose apprehensions and lawlessness of that era by giving birth to contrary postmodernism. Postmodernism has promoted personal emancipation in form of an individuality. This individuality has given rise to personal identification through confronting identity crisis created by modernism through working of societal, religious, political and socio-cultural positions. Personal identity formation corresponds to functioning of these societal by corresponding   another issue of same coin of identity crisis. This research sheds light on internal turmoil of individuals which they have to face while living away from their native land. This study has tried to analyze the functioning of these positions behind the enfeeblement of identity in post-modernism through the textual analysis of  the central characters in these novels The Runaways by Fatima Bhutto, Cities of Spies by Surraya khan, Exit West by Mohsin Hamid, Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie and Maps for lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam. This paper has used theoretical ideas of Bhabha, Dunn and Hall to assist critical formation of ideas. The findings of this study indicate that identity crisis is the most significant issue in all these novels and their protagonists undergo through this procedure.