Representation of postcolonial identity in salman rushdie’s major works

Abstract

This article examines the representation of postcolonial identity in the major works of Salman Rushdie within the framework of postcolonial literary theory. Postcolonial identity is approached as a dynamic and hybrid construct shaped by colonial history, cultural displacement, and the experience of migration. The research focuses on selected novels such as Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses, and Shame, which reflect the complex relationship between personal identity and national history. Particular attention is paid to Rushdie’s use of narrative techniques, including magic realism, nonlinear narration, and intertextuality, as tools for expressing postcolonial consciousness. The findings suggest that Rushdie challenges essentialist notions of identity and presents hybridity as a central postcolonial motif. By redefining identity as a space of cultural negotiation and creative transformation, Rushdie’s works contribute significantly to the understanding of postcolonial literature and identity formation.