Agony and Alienation in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Mistress of Spices

Abstract

Diaspora is one of the most significant topics of discussion in the arena of world literature. It deals with a variety of themes; some of the most prominent themes are alienation, rootlessness, displacement, and discrimination. Immigrants move from one place to another in search of a better lifestyle, job opportunities, economic and educational aspirations, and the pursuit of freedom. They experience numerous challenges when they undergo the journey of transformation to fulfil their dreams. Beyond success in their venture, they experience psychological trauma, discrimination and alienation which impact their mental health. Some of the common psychological struggles of immigrants are cultural shock and identity crisis, social and cultural isolation and loneliness, discrimination and prejudice, generational and intergenerational, and traditional and cultural conflicts. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni portrays immigrants' experiences in an empathetic way and never fails to capture their struggles. Through her novel, The Mistress of Spices (1997), Divakaruni reveals her profound understanding of immigrants’ traumatic experiences and addresses their predicaments, as well as their resilience and strength. This paper explores the psychological challenges of immigrants and reveals their emotional trauma while navigating their lives with two distinct cultures in new cultural landscapes.