Immigrant Narratives in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's The Vine of Desire: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s The Vine of Desire intricately explores the emotional and psychological complexities of cross-cultural encounters through the lives of two Indian women navigating immigration, identity, and adaptation in a foreign land. This paper critically examines the novel’s portrayal of immigrant dilemmas, including cultural dislocation, emotional fragmentation, and the conflict between tradition and modernity. Divakaruni deftly weaves personal narratives with broader socio-cultural commentary, particularly emphasising Sudha’s struggle to reconcile her Indian values with the demands of American society. The novel illuminates how immigrant identities are neither fixed nor singular but constantly evolving under pressure from memory, exile, and new affiliations. Through her characters' experiences of loneliness, loss, and longing, Divakaruni foregrounds the gendered Aspect of migration, highlighting how women often bear the double burden of cultural preservation and personal reinvention. This paper draws on postcolonial and diasporic theoretical frameworks to interrogate themes of hybridity, nostalgia, and self-redefinition. The Vine of Desire presents a poignant meditation on the immigrant experience, highlighting the costs of cultural displacement and the potential for transformation through empathy and resilience.