Narrative: Assimilation or Integration?
Narrative: Assimilation or Integration?

Summary/Abstract: The works of minority authors are often referred to as “assimilation narrative,” although it is very often not assimilation that they seek. They strive to find a place in mainstream society, without giving up their ethnic-cultural-religious backround – in other words, they wish to get integrated, rather than assimilated. They regret when assimilation takes place, when they finally have to leave their cultural roots behind, and they try to postpone it as much as they can. Ethnic authors, immigrant writers fully understand that the members of minorities, new immigrants wish to get integrated, as in this way they are able to enjoy the advantages a highly industrialized country with high living standards is able to offer. But most ethnic authors do not believe that for integration they always and inevitably need to abandon and give up their ethnic, cultural and religious roots. It is therefore justified to introduce the term “integration narrative” to denote writings the authors of which are against assimilation, while they look for a possibility of meaningful participation in mainstream society. For the essay, examples from Hispanic American literature will be used. Authors who reject and those who accept assimilation are discussed in the paper.

• Details
• Contents