Passing through Caste, Class and Gender: An Ethical Deconstruction in Hari Kunzru’s The Impressionist

Abstract

This paper delves into the effects of “passing” concerning class, caste, and gender on the protagonist, Prannath, in Hari Kunzru’s novel The Impressionist. “Passing” as a concept, having roots in sociology was first coined by Erving Goffman. Broadly, it involves adopting different identities or behaviors to escape discrimination and access better opportunities and social acceptance. Beginning from the caste-ridden and colonially subjugated terrains of India (the global South) to the affluent and imperial Britain (the global North), Prannath’s imposturous identity shifts exhibits how passing, a key tool for colonized can be liberating at one side, while it can also result in psychological trauma and ethical dilemmas related to deception and authenticity. This paper uses Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction theory to examine “passing” in Hari Kunzru’s The Impressionist, focusing on its dynamic ethical aspects. Having cues from dynamic ethics by Zygmunt Bauman, Michel Foucault, and Emmanuel Levinas, highlighting the fluidity of norms, performative actions, cultural and historical contexts, and interpretative encounters, the analysis shows how passing disrupts binaries like authenticity versus deception and privilege versus marginalization, highlighting the evolving nature of ethics in response to shifting identities and survival strategies. In all, the study intends to contribute to the ethical debate on the global North versus the global South.