A Psychoanalytical Study of Colonial Trauma and Identity Crisis in the Character of Jemubhai Patel in Kiran Desai’s Novel The Inheritance of Loss

Abstract

This research explores the psychoanalytic dimensions of Jemubhai Patel, a central character in Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss. By applying psychoanalytic theory, particularly Freud’s concepts of repression and identity crisis, this study investigates how Jemubhai’s experiences of colonial trauma shape his emotional and psychological state. The paper argues that Jemubhai’s repression of his Indian heritage and his attempts to assimilate into British culture contribute to an ongoing identity crisis. This identity conflict and the psychological scars of colonialism lead to his emotional isolation, self-loathing, and fractured relationships. Through this study, the paper highlights how colonialism’s impact transcends history, affecting the post-colonial psyche and relationships.

Keywords- Psychoanalytical , Colonial Trauma, Identity Crisis,  Character, Jemubhai Patel , Kiran Desai’s Novel