本文主要研究了姬蘭．德賽《繼承失落的人》中不穩定的文化認同和在後殖民時期西方文化對當地居民的衝擊.德賽將小說設定在印度後殖民時期, 同時全球化也在普及的時期.所以, 在第一章, 本文著重在西方文化對當地印度居民以及生活在國外的印度非法移民的衝擊, 研究了兩個有離散經歷的主要人物, 法官和畢久. 這兩個屬於不同時代的人同樣在離散經歷中遭遇了文化衝突和種族歧視. 同樣地, 在追求財富和社會名聲的途中他們失去了對本國文化的認同,轉而擁護西方文化. 在第二章, 本文展現了後殖民時期印度居民對現代化的追求和國族主義. 在葛倫堡, 無論是哪個階級的人都沈浸在西方文化中從而忽略外部社會已經失去秩序. 雖然印度恢復了其政治自由, 但北印度的社會環境依舊混亂因其邊境有太多種族及其引發的混亂的關係.德賽著重描述了由在印度遭遇不平等的尼泊爾人發起的GNLF組織的暴動.在最後一章, 本文討論了一個女性角色, 賽伊. 一個16歲的的年輕女孩受教育於印度文化和西方文化的混合中, 而她不在意階級或者文化上的差異, 使她成為小說中最有可能實現跨越不同階級、國家和文化之間的界線的人物.

This thesis examines unstable cultural identity and how the western culture impacts the local culture in India in the postcolonial era in the novel, The Inheritance of Loss, which is written by Kiran Desai, who sets her novel in India in the postcolonial era when globalization unleash its influence around the world. Thus, in chapter one, this thesis concentrates on the impacts of western culture on the local Indian residents in Kalimpong and the Indians living abroad as illegal immigrants, and investigates the diasporic experiences of two protagonists, the judge and Biju, of two generations both encounter the cultural conflicts and racial discrimination. But their pursuing of wealth and reputation in western countries leads to the loss of their cultural identity. In chapter two, this thesis would like to show the longing for modernity in the postcolonial era and nationalism in India. In Kalimpong, where both the upper class and the lower class immerse in the western culture, neglecting the outside world which has already been in disorder. Although India recovers its political freedom, the social situation in north India is still in the unrest because of the chaotic relations between diverse ethnicities. Desai focuses on the GNLF movement conducted by the Nepalese, who suffer from inequality in India sovereignty. In the last chapter, this thesis explores one female protagonist, Sai. A sixteen-year-old girl, who is a hybridity of both Indian culture and western culture. This young girl does not mind the differences of class and culture, who thus becomes the character with the potential to cross the border between different classes, nations and cultures.

Introduction……………………………………………………………........................1
Chapter One
Symptoms of Diaspora: Displacement and Loss of Identity………………………….12
Chapter Two
Aftermath of Colonization: Modernity and Nationalism………………………….….31
Chapter Three
Stepping Over the Borders: Sai’s In-between Identity………………………………..49
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………65
Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………..71

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