Paper short abstract:

British Bengalis, both of Hindu (and thus identifying themselves with Indians) or Muslim (and thus often calling themselves Bangladeshis) are tied with their Golden Bengal, the region of origin and the place of their dream. These links in relation to life and death patterns are analysed in the paper.

Paper long abstract:

Modern Indian, and in particular Bengali, literature reflects vital social and cultural issues. It presents to the European readers the specific features of traditional culture in the contemporary world and can be used as a valuable ethnographic source. The novel "Brick Lane", written by Monica Ali in 2003, provides a modern vision of changing life-and-death patterns of British Bengalis. Special attention is paid not only to problems of social adaptation, but also to individual perception of reality, traditional and new patterns of self-identity. Monika Ali scrutinizes tense relations between different generations of British Bangladeshis. While retaining manners and customs of their parents, young people have to adjust to the norms of British society and to find their own way of incorporation into the new life. The novel depicts diverse variants of cultural adaptation and social integration. There are immigrants, who have totally integrated in the British society and those, who can't adapt and are forced to come back to Bangladesh.