Diasporic Identity, Cultural Dislocation, and Cross-Cultural Communication in Jhumpa Lahiri’s Whereabouts

Abstract

This paper explores Jhumpa Lahiri’s Whereabouts as a nuanced portrayal of the diasporic experience, focusing on identity and cross-cultural communication. Through the protagonist’s fragmented life, the novel examines cultural conflict, belonging, and the search for place within overlapping identities. Divided into four sections, it captures her evolving self through familial ties, romantic encounters, physical surroundings, travel, and inherited culture. Oscillating between connection and alienation, she exemplifies the diasporic individual navigating dual cultural realities. The novel highlights how language and communication serve as both bridges and barriers. Ultimately, Whereabouts emerges as a significant literary exploration of diasporic consciousness and identity in a globalized world.