Metamorphosis of the Marginalized: Empowerment and Identity Reconstruction in Bharati Mukherjee’s Fiction Jasmine

Abstract

This paper investigates about the journey of a woman to empower herself through identity reconstruction. The central character, Jasmine, rebels against traditional belief system, stereotypical set up of the society. She, being marginalized, supposed to follow the path directed by male in the society since childhood. But Jasmine challenged her childhood prophecies, destiny, preconceived notions about female in male chauvinistic world. She begins her life as Jyoti, a spirited young girl, from rural Indian family. Later she migrated to United States after the murder of her husband. She tackled every adversity in a talented and boldly manner not merely in India but also on foreign land. She does not stagnate or surrender even after being a widow. She believes in herself and flexible enough to transform her identity, name as per the requirement of the outer environment. She undergoes the process of metamorphosis from her birthplace to United States. She transformed herself into Jyoti-Jasmine-Jazzy-Jase-Jane in order to exist and survive in accordance with time, space, and culture. She accepted each change as a challenge. She strives to create her identity and attempts to come out of darkness of ignorance through the illumination of her own inner self by choosing appropriate options that lead to self-empowerment.