Funny Boy - Indentity
ASHWIN KANAN
MS. SMITA GANDHOTRA
ASSIGNMENT 1
1ST YEAR ENGLISH HONOURS, SECTION-B
5TH MARCH 2014
PERSONAL AND NATIONAL IDENTITIES IN “FUNNY BOY”
In Shyam Selvadurai’s novel “Funny Boy”, a boy’s growth into adolescence is set against stringent heteronormative society and escalating political tensions in Sri Lanka. There is no watertight structure to say whether one’s national identity governs one’s personal identity or vice versa, or for that matter, that there is no difference between the two. The novel “Funny Boy” carefully traces questions of identity at the individual and national level of not just the young protagonist Arjie but also the other characters whose personal identities are constantly influencing and moulding their national identities. As we see through the example of Sri Lanka as a place in the novel, national identity is not just formed in terms of the entire nation at the macro level but it is important to note how micro factors such as ethnic background, culture, language, social and political institutions which from the idea of nation, perpetuate the normative behaviour of people and hence moulds their national identity. To begin with, Arjie as a young boy growing in a Tamil family is shown primarily as an uncertain character. This uncertainty of his shows in different forums such as uncertainty with regards to his sexuality, allegiance to family members, response, and national identity. Mr Chelvaratnam, Arjie’s father, again, is shown primarily as a rational, highbrowed breadwinner of the family with ideas of ethics and norms at the core of his being. This leads to his being politically pacifist who is more concerned about protecting family interests and business interests while the concern for a national identity falls in the background for him. Nalini, Arjie’s mother is mostly concerned about her family space and protecting her status. She is initially neutral to the questions of national identity in the unrest but later, when
MS. SMITA GANDHOTRA
ASSIGNMENT 1
1ST YEAR ENGLISH HONOURS, SECTION-B
5TH MARCH 2014
PERSONAL AND NATIONAL IDENTITIES IN “FUNNY BOY”
In Shyam Selvadurai’s novel “Funny Boy”, a boy’s growth into adolescence is set against stringent heteronormative society and escalating political tensions in Sri Lanka. There is no watertight structure to say whether one’s national identity governs one’s personal identity or vice versa, or for that matter, that there is no difference between the two. The novel “Funny Boy” carefully traces questions of identity at the individual and national level of not just the young protagonist Arjie but also the other characters whose personal identities are constantly influencing and moulding their national identities. As we see through the example of Sri Lanka as a place in the novel, national identity is not just formed in terms of the entire nation at the macro level but it is important to note how micro factors such as ethnic background, culture, language, social and political institutions which from the idea of nation, perpetuate the normative behaviour of people and hence moulds their national identity. To begin with, Arjie as a young boy growing in a Tamil family is shown primarily as an uncertain character. This uncertainty of his shows in different forums such as uncertainty with regards to his sexuality, allegiance to family members, response, and national identity. Mr Chelvaratnam, Arjie’s father, again, is shown primarily as a rational, highbrowed breadwinner of the family with ideas of ethics and norms at the core of his being. This leads to his being politically pacifist who is more concerned about protecting family interests and business interests while the concern for a national identity falls in the background for him. Nalini, Arjie’s mother is mostly concerned about her family space and protecting her status. She is initially neutral to the questions of national identity in the unrest but later, when