Summary of novel by Ralph Ellison
This research is focused on Ralph Ellison's posthumous novel Juneteenth in the light of cultural theory of cultural hybridity. The term 'hybridity' refers to creation of new trans-cultural forms within the contact zone produced by colonization. Hybridity is also implied in horticulture that refers to the crossbreeding of two species by grafting or cross-pollination to form a 'third' species. Hybridization depicts many forms: linguistic, cultural, racial, political or social etc. The novel Juneteenth abounds with elements of culture, multiculturalism, globalization, race, ethnicity, marginality, diaspora, migration, displacement, dislocation, identity crisis and alienation etc. The present study especially focuses on the issues of cultural hybridity that brings the identity crisis and the feeling of alienation in the life of the protagonist. Due to cultural change, he does not know his parental origin. Thus, identity involves intense desire for establishing and space by replacing fixed, coherent and stable assumption through doubt and uncertainty. Likewise, identity covers the study of culture, race, gender, class, sexuality and other issues etc. It creates space and 'subject positions' for example the difference between black and white cultures. Today's identities are in motion. They are not absolutes or constant of nature or culture, but changeable and our notion of identity is greatly influenced by cultural phenomena. Consequently, identity has been rendered hybrid, not a fixed concept but rather falls on the issue of identity crisis and alienated one. The term 'alienation' is derived from the verb 'to alienate' meaning "to make somebody feel that they do not belong in a particular group" (Oxford 29). It shows the condition of being estranged and isolated. The alienated protagonist feels that he shares some elements with his cultural group he does not belong completely in it. Moreover, the situation is ambivalent and resides on the borderline between his belongingness and estrangement. Therefore, the protagonist who is genetically and culturally hybrid exhibits uncertainty, distrust, psychological dissatisfaction and other negative attitudes etc. In a sense, he is alienated from his cultural community as well as from the culture he has encountered. He shows such negative impulses fall prey to alienation.