Topic > The theme of the struggle with cultural identity: Karen Desi's legacy of loss his studies in England, despite confronting both internal and external aspects of racism. In postcolonial India, the English were perceived as highly educated and wealthy, which appealed to young adults struggling with their fit into the caste system. This was the case for the judge, who excelled at school and was able to study abroad in England. While fueling his ego, his travels further perpetuate his desire to be superior, to be English. This double consciousness distances him from his family and alienates him from the English, creating friction with his sense of belonging. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Body The judge's animosity toward his own cultural identity dates back long before his life in England. The judge's bitterness towards his father, "...an uneducated man", made him feel defeated by the caste system. There was no possibility of mobility, but a Western education could have inflated his importance and reputation. The judge realizes that the more Western he appears, the better he would be treated; thus, cheating the effects of the caste system. The judge's newly romanticized thoughts about England give him hope and allow him to set goals that would allow him to live in England in the future. However, the longer the judge stays in India, the more his resentment grows that he is not where he wants to be. This puts a strain on his family life and separates him from his father, who he is embarrassed about because he has no interest in the West. The judge's preconceived idea of England will impact his life and how he views Indian and English culture once he experiences it first hand. While living in England, the judge's character and thoughts change as he witnesses poverty and experiences discrimination. However, his resentment towards India runs deeper. Once he arrives in England, the judge is "...astonished by the things that welcomed him..." but "...he didn't realize that even here people can be poor and live an unsightly life". This is an important aspect of this character's thought progression because he is saying that although he wasn't impressed, it was still better than India. The judge would rather experience mild racism in England than feel comfortable in his home country. After some time in England, this begins to take its toll on the judge and he becomes homeless, the "...feeling of being trapped between cultures...of not feeling at home even in your own home because you're not at home in yourself..." (Tyson 5). He realizes that he does not belong in England, not because he does not wish to be there, but because he is Indian. Not being accepted as an Indian in England or as an educated, Westernized man in India, the judges face an internal conflict over his cultural identity because in both places he does not fit in. stranger to himself than to those around him, he found his skin a strange color, his accent peculiar, " . He became aware of his own body and was aware of how others saw him. In India people admired him because he was intelligent, but in England he was seen only as a foreigner. Although the judge wishes to be in England, his glorification leads to disappointment and a negative outlook on life in India.
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