THE IMPACT OF HYBRIDITY AND MIMICRY ON THE INDIAN IMMIGRANTS’ IDENTITY: A POSTCOLONIAL ANALYSIS IN JHUMPA LAHIRI’S THE LOWLAND

This research has two objectives: (1) to identify the forms of hybridity and mimicry done by Indian immigrant characters in the US, (2) to analyze how hybridity and mimicry affect their identity. Therefore, post-colonialism theory specifically on the discussion upon hybridity and mimicry is applied. This research falls into qualitative research. The data of this research are in the forms of words, sentences and paragraphs taken from Lahiri’s The Lowland related to the form of hybridity and mimicry done by the characters and the effects on their identity. The content analysis technique is used to analyze the data by reading, understanding and interpreting the data. The results of this research are that the form of hybridity experienced by the characters is linguistic hybridity and the forms of mimicry done by the characters are mimicry of manner, value and lifestyle. The interpretation of the data shows that hybridity and mimicry lead the characters to have double consciousness