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Human and Non-Human: The Duality of Diaspora in Amitav Ghosh's Gun Island

Authors :
Athithya Paramesh N. P.
J. Amutha Monica
Source :
Journal on English Language Teaching. 2024 14(1):26-33.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

'Diaspora' is a term that has undergone transformation throughout history. In its original sense, it referred to the Jewish population residing outside of their native land in Palestine. In its current usage, it encompasses any dispersion of people or linguistic and cultural phenomena originating from a localized source. The transnational narrative of Gun Island parallels the dispersion of both human and non-human animals caused by human-induced climate change. Humans migrate for various reasons, including environmental factors and economic opportunities, while non-human animals migrate solely due to pervasive climate change in the Anthropocene. This study argues that the novel invites readers to rethink the global perspective of diaspora from a more inclusive and ecological standpoint, recognizing that nonhuman animals also exhibit some features common to human diaspora groups. Examples include displacement from original habitats, encountering challenges in new environments, and bearing cultural or ecological relevance for source regions.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2231-3338 and 2249-0752
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
Journal on English Language Teaching
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ1423652
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.14.1.20382