Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part H (2025)

The research paper shows the complex of cultural conflict in Paule Marshall's Brown Girl, Brownstones, identity, and assimilation through the experiences of a Barbadian immigrant family in Brooklyn. The novel follows Selina Boyce, a young protagonist navigating the tensions between her mother's traditional Barbadian values and her own emerging sense of self in an American context. The pressures of social mobility, racial discrimination, and the immigrant struggle for acceptance intensify this cultural conflict. Selina’s journey reflects the psychological burden of reconciling her heritage with her aspirations, ultimately shaping her identity. Marshall effectively portrays the generational divide within immigrant families, emphasizing themes of belonging, cultural preservation, and self-discovery. Through Selina’s evolving consciousness, it presents an exploration of cultural hybridity and the emotional complexities. The paper explores the author's development of female characters strongly influenced by West Indian language and culture. Marshall's narrative method and subject investigation define her as a diasporic and feminist novelist. The purpose of the article is to look at Marshall's emphasis on women as the essence of the family, retaining their unique identity through custom and legacy. This article examines Marshall's female characters, who are the prominent figures in the story and embody a strong African background despite living in a distant environment. They share a cultural identity with diasporic cultures while rejecting the culture they encounter.