Exploring Irony as a Coping Mechanism for the Failed Model of Universalism: 'The Buddha of Suburbia' and 'Cockroach' Anonymous College

Both Hanif Kureishi’s Buddha of Suburbia (Buddha) and Rawi Hage’s Cockroach are situated within the diaspora writing that proliferates Canadian literature as a whole. Diaspora is a Greek word, a combination of the prefix dia- (meaning “through”) and the verb sperein (meaning “to sow” or “to scatter”) (Brent Hayes Edwards 41). Supposedly, this form of literature, where hybrid writing is situated at its core, provides an imaginative narrative space for immigrant characters to develop their identities. This is due to the nature of its style. Hybrid writing in style and language bears the features of the writers’ countries of origin and of their host countries. This aspect of diaspora writings, written in the master’s language loaded with endless search for identity and longing, occupies a third position that is not entirely Indian/Labanese or English, thus allowing a space for immigrant voices to be heard. As such, there are expectations for diaspora writing to not only offer a space for the immigrant characters living in exile to voice their joys and pains but also bridge the mutual understanding between the South Asia and the West from a planetary viewpoint. Yet, both novels present such a happy resolution to be simply...