CULTURAL ALIENATION IN UPAMANYU CHATTERJEE’S ENGLISH, AUGUST: AN INDIAN STORY

Abstract

The theme of exile and alienation is prevalent throughout twentieth-century writing, to the extent that it is often referred to as the literature of exile. This text reflects the overall sense of disappointment, challenges, and profound spiritual isolation experienced by individuals in the post-war generations. It highlights the feeling of being insignificant and alienated in the vast cosmos. Upamanyu Chatterjee’s novel "English, August: An Indian Story" explores identity in a postmodern culture. It complicates this topic by involving the protagonist in a complex network of conflicting and contradictory experiences and behaviors. Chatterjee presents a nuanced perspective on post-colonial society, where exile and alienation appear to be unavoidable aspects of human behavior.