In most recorded history, spatio-cultural displacement is often marked by conflict and
tension, especially when the spaces contrast starkly in the matter of the dominant
ideologies they practice and propagate. This problematic obtains a lyrical yet deeply
complex rendition in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’sThe Mistress of Spices (1997) which
presents an engaging account of the conflict between the tradition and mysticism of the
east, represented by India, and the empowerment and liberation of the west, symbolized
by America. By delving into the complexities of immigration, assimilation and cultural
othering, the novel addresses issues such as identity and autonomy through the experiences
of a host of expatriate Indians residing in the western coast of America. The central
debate in the narrative, however, revolves around its female protagonist, Tilo, who is both
empowered and oppressed as she grapples with the east-west binary. Notably, while Tilo
upholds the mystical powers and tradition of India that in turn grant her supernatural
abilities as a healer and a nurturer, ironically, it is these powers that entrap her under
stringent gender norms emanating from traditional Indian value-systems. Likewise, while
America bestows upon her the independence and autonomy to run a spice shop, it
nevertheless exoticizes her. Tilo, the magical healer, therefore, inhabits a liminal space
between the east and the west where she constantly negotiates with cultural codes in
order to attain autonomy and identity.
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