Keywords
Migration, Identity, Self-Reflection, Female Subjectivity, Diasporic Narratives.
Abstract
This research paper examines the interrelated themes of memory, migration, and female subjectivity in Bharati Mukherjee's Desirable Daughters. This study situates the novel within the context of diasporic feminist discourse, contending that Mukherjee depicts migration not only as a geographical shift but as a significant psychological and cultural metamorphosis that redefines women's identities. The protagonist, Tara Lata Chatterjee, illustrates how individual memory and familial history can influence our identities, even across national boundaries. Utilizing theories of diaspora and hybridity, the paper examines the role of memory as a mechanism of cultural continuity and a locus of tension for diasporic women. Tara's memories of her Bengali upbringing, family customs, and patriarchal expectations demonstrate the enduring influence of cultural memory on the formation of female identity. At the same time, her time in the United States, which included divorce, independence, and emotional isolation, shows how hard it can be to find autonomy in different cultural contexts. Mukherjee finally redefines female identity as flexible, negotiated, and continuously evolving in the context of global migration by focusing on Tara's path of self-reflection and development.
