A Critical Reflection upon Culture Shock of Migrant Nazneen in Monica Ali’s Brick Lane

Abstract

The notions of culture and identity are intertwined with one another by occupying a leading role in shaping a certain perception of the world for every single individual. They constitute so meaningful whole that the culture into which a person is born gives that person a more distinct identity from that of person belonging to another culture. More definitely stated, the concept of cultural identity in question here can be identified as a means of differentiating oneself from the other people that possess varied identities in line with conventions of their own cultures. When viewed from this aspect,  for instance, the window from which a Muslim looks at the world cannot be considered the same as that of Westerner since they have disparate cultural identities. At this point, it must be underlined that Monica Ali's Brick Lane pivots around experiences of a Bangladeshi Muslim young woman, Nazneen, who struggles to hold on to life in London because of her arranged marriage. Pertinently, this study will elaborate on the characteristics of the incongruities between Nazneen's own culture and the Western culture in terms of the concepts of religion and gender that result in the Muslim woman's serious culture shock.