مشخصات پژوهش

This research investigates the themes of identity, cultural hybridity, and postcolonial struggles in Zadie Smith’s White Teeth through the framework of Edward Said’s postcolonial theory, with an emphasis on concepts like “Orientalism” and hybridity. Smith’s novel presents a multi-generational narrative that reflects the complexities of identity formation in a multicultural Britain shaped by colonial legacies. Through her characters, Smith examines the internal conflicts that arise from cultural displacement, societal pressures, and the quest for autonomy within a postcolonial environment. The study highlights how colonial history continues to influence personal and collective identities, resulting in both generational tensions and evolving hybrid identities.The research focuses on how White Teeth portrays characters navigating their multicultural identities against a backdrop of societal expectations that often demand conformity to Western norms. Said’s concepts of stereotyping and “othering” serve as tools for analyzing the characters' experiences of marginalization and their efforts to balance native and adopted cultural identities. Additionally, the study explores the impact of aesthetic ideals, particularly whiteness, as a social and political construct that reinforces cultural hierarchies. The research seeks to demonstrate how Smith’s ironic and comedic narrative challenges societal expectations, critiquing both Western standards and the rigid categorizations of postcolonial identities. Ultimately, the study aims to reveal the novel’s broader implications on identity, heritage, and the lasting influence of colonial structures in shaping self-perception in contemporary postcolonial societies.