The Memory-Fiction Nexus: Exploring Jhumpa Lahiri's Whereabouts

Abstract

This study delves into the intricate relationship between memory and fiction in Jhumpa Lahiri's novel Whereabouts, posing a critical research question: How do the complex dynamics of memory, forgetting, and remembering intersect to shape the protagonist's narrative identity, and what role do these dynamics play in generating a sense of authenticity in the novel? Through a nuanced analysis of the narrative, drawing on memory studies and cognitive psychology, this research aims to excavate how memory operates as an agentic activity, entailing both the intentional recall of past events and the strategic forgetting of painful experiences.
By examining the intersections of memory, place, and identity, this study establishes memory and place as meaning-making enterprises that underpin the fictional process. The research demonstrates how the protagonist's memories of her past, her relationships, and her surroundings shape her narrative identity and how these memories are, in turn, shaped by the complex interplay between remembering and forgetting. Furthermore, this study explores how the politics of forgetting and remembering are wielded in the novel to generate a sense of authenticity, highlighting the tension between the protagonist's desire for self-definition and her need for connection with others. Ultimately, this research contributes to our understanding of the memory-fiction nexus, illuminating how fiction uses memory to generate a sense of authenticity and how this authenticity is shaped by the complex interplay between remembering and forgetting. By examining the memory-fiction nexus in Whereabouts, this study provides insights into the human experience, highlighting the significance of memory in shaping our narrative identities, our relationships with others, and our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.

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