Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part G (2025)

This research paper explores the intricate interplay of diasporic identity, domestic conflict, and symbolic spaces in Sunetra Gupta’s novels Memories of Rai, A Sin of Colour, Moonlight into Marzipa, and So Good in Black. The study delves into the lived experiences of diasporic characters who navigate the complexities of intercultural marriages, often marked by alienation, betrayal, and trauma. Through a feminist lens, the paper examines how hegemonic masculinity perpetuates oppression within these relationships, highlighting the struggles of women like Moni and Niharika as they confront infidelity, cultural dislocation, and patriarchal impositions. Domestic spaces, both literal and metaphorical, emerge as sites of conflict and resistance, reflecting the oppressive structures of family and society. Gupta employs Gothic symbolism to depict homes as decaying, imprisoning entities that mirror the psychological fragmentation of her characters. This study also investigates the role of nostalgia and cultural memory in shaping diasporic identities, emphasizing how protagonists grapple with their dual attachments to homeland and host countries. By analyzing the intersection of gender roles, cultural hybridity, and spatial symbolism, this paper underscores the universal mechanisms of identity construction and cultural negotiation in postcolonial literature. The findings reveal that Gupta’s characters, though constrained by societal norms, ultimately strive for emancipation and self-definition, transcending the boundaries imposed by patriarchal and colonial legacies.