Cultural Identity and Assimilation in Girish Karnad's Yayati and Wole Soyinka's A Dance of the Forests

Abstract

It examines both Girish Karnad's "Yayati" and Wole Soyinka's "Dance of the Forests" to address issues on culture identity and Assimilation. This research looks at how the problems of cultural identity and assimilation are represented by these two main works from around the world through a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective. It uses ideas from literary criticism, cultural studies, and postcolonial theory. This paper examines the way in which each play depicts cultural identity and assimilation, explores similar themes and divergences over a period, as well as examining how society and culture affect individual and community identities. The research applies theoretical framework consisting of Cultural Identity Theory, Assimilation Theory and Postcolonial Studies to provide helpful information on the character's challenges, aspirations as well as more general social conditions in which they exist