Exploring the Inner Turmoil and Crisis of Identity in Zadie Smith’s “Hanwell in Hell”

C. Madhumitha¹, Dr. M. P. Anuja²

¹Research Scholar (Full Time), Ph.D. Register Number: 23211204012007, Department of English and Research Centre, Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam, (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 627012), Tamil Nadu, India. madhuchelladuari01@gmail.com

²Associate Professor and Research Supervisor, Department of English and Research Centre, Sri Parasakthi College for Women, Courtallam, (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli – 627012), Tamil Nadu, India. dranujamp@gmail.com

Abstract

Zadie Smith holds a significant place in the contemporary British Literature. Her works revolve around multicultural background, its complexities, and the exploration of identity, race, and class. In the short story “Hanwell in Hell”, Hanwell is the central character who undergoes emotional isolation after the death of his wife and estrangement from his daughters. He is unable to overcome this emotional suffering. His emotional suppression leads him to preserve the photographs of his daughter, and he hopes for their return. He tries all the possible ways to rebuild his life and his identity. Smith presents Hanwell as a father whose mind is filled with the memories of his past life with his wife and daughters, which causes him pain and mental suffering in the present. This paper aims to deal with this inner turmoil of Hanwell and his crisis of identity in “Hanwell in Hell.”

Keywords: Isolation, Identity, Emotional suffering, Memory, Absence.