STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICES ABOUT THE ‘OTHER’ AS AN UNAVOIDABLE PART OF BRITISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE

Abstract

The concept of the ‘other’ is an inherent part of understanding one’s identity, since people define their roles through their relations toward ‘others’. Generally speaking, the ‘other’ is everyone who is detached and different from one’s self or one’s true nature. ‘Otherness’ became the subject of research in postmodern British literature in terms of its diversity and variety, divergence and disagreement with standard, conventional and established. To demonstrate how prejudices are widespread and what their role in literature is, the selection of British novels of the 20th century has been made with the emphasis on the second part of the century and postmodern British novel. The analysis has proved that stereotypes are indeed unavoidable part of British culture and literature and exposed their particular role in works of literature. The second half of the twentieth century brings seismic shift of literary and national identity: The English novel was replaced by novel written in English language due to importance and to strength. This is the main reason for selection of the British novels of the late 20th century that are representative both for their artistic quality and influence. The analysis of selected works from modern and postmodern periods with the regard to stereotypes and prejudices about 'other' undoubtedly pointed out that mentioned concepts are unavoidable part of British literature and culture, and their numerous variations and roles in literature were clearly demonstrated.