Cultural Revival: The Role of Tradition and Memory in Rebuilding Identity in Joanne Harris’ Five Quarters of the Orange

Teena Augustin A.
Research Scholar (Register number: 241131502051),
Department of English, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil – 629 002.
(Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627 012)
Email: teenaaugus15@gmail.com

Dr. R. Senitha
Assistant Professor & Research Supervisor,
Department of English, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil – 629 002.
(Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli-627 012)
Email: senitha87@gmail.com

Abstract
Cultural Revival is the process of reviving traditional customs, arts, languages and heritage. It shows how identity and cultural heritage are protected. British literature, known for addressing identity and cultural narratives, provides a platform to explore such themes. The author Joanne Harris, in her historical fiction Five Quarters of the Orange, details the concept of cultural revival, through the exploration of memory and the impact of the past on personal development. The novel Five Quarters of the Orange explores how Joanne Harris uses memory and tradition to rebuild identity. The novel’s protagonist, Framboise Dartigen is haunted by her past in Nazi-occupied France. She initially represses her early childhood memories and hides her identity. By re-examining her mother’s recipes, traditional foods, and personal tales, Framboise rediscovers her roots and comes to her cultural heritage. The study explores the complex relationship between memory and tradition, showing how they support identity rebuilding and cultural renewal. It combines culinary customs with personal memories to show how identity is created through shared memory and individual experiences. The study stresses how customs act as a bridge between the past and the present heritage through the themes of food, nostalgia, and storytelling. The research explores how memory and tradition are essential components to rebuild identity.

Keywords: Cultural revival, Tradition, Memory, Identity reconstruction, Heritage.