Politics of Nomadism and Deterritorialization in Junot Diaz's Fiction

Abstract

This thesis explores the politics of the Dominican nomads who experience deterritorialization in their own homeland and suffer dispersion among physical and psychological territories in Junot Diaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007) and Drown (1996). The exploration of the nomadic lifestyle is studied through the theoretical perspective of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia (1980) by applying the concept of rhizome on Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and major features of nomadism and deterritorialization on the collection of short stories Drown. The study creates a method of coexistence and social interconnectedness for the nomads to solve the multiplicities a nomad has in his/her life due to deterritorialization. Rhizomatic study connects the partial spots, multiplicities and territories to build a diverted cohesive community. This study aims to examine how Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's theory can be utilized to enrich the understanding of the characters' experiences. This study concludes that the characters undergo deterritorialized and nomadic identity but through the rhizomatic methods they attempt to create spaces for them. The study, is then, significant to writers, readers, and academics who grapple with the complex relationship between such two concepts, The current study is divided into four chapters. Chapter one is an introduction that sheds light on the background of this topic. Chapter two is concerned with literature review that focuses on the previous studies that have discussed the similar idea but in different techniques. The Politics Of Nomadism And Deterritorialization In Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao: Rhizomatic Study has been tackled in chapter three. Chapter four deals with nomadism and deterritorialization in "Drown" 1996. The conclusion sums up the findings.