INVESTIGATING THE UNHEARD VOICES OF SUBALTERN IN LOUISE ERDRICH’S FUTURE HOME OF THE LIVING GOD

Abstract

The present research paper undertakes to explore the struggle of Subalterns to raise the voices for their rights in Louise Erdrich’s novel Future Home of the Living God. The present study adopts the theoretical background of postcolonial theory by focusing on subaltern studies. The main purpose of this study is to explore the oppression and suppression of the subalterns and their resistance against this oppression. It considers Future Home of the Living God by LouiseErdrich as a primary source of data. A thorough study and analysis of the text has enabled the researcher to interpret some findings in the light of Gayatri Spivak’s essay Can the Subaltern Speak?. The study highlights that the selected text is enriched with instances that represent marginalization and the unheard voices of subaltern. Erdrich does not present subaltern as a strata who has accepted their marginalization but she highlights the efforts of subaltern to be heard. She also highlights that how these subalterns remain unheard after so much struggles. This study is an attempt to criticize the practice of racial biasness, social discrimination and “Othering” by powerful discourses. The parameter of qualitative research is used for this study. The selected instances from the text are studied and analyzed in the light of GayatriSpivak’s Can the Subaltern Speak?.