The Importance of Mangal Pande (to Samad) in Zadie Smith’s ‘White Teeth

Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, http: //www.uni-jena.de/, course: Black British Literature, language: English, abstract: […] The main goal of this paper should be an in depth look at the character of the Muslim waiter Samad Iqbal and his fixation upon his antecedent Mangal Pande who allegedly started a revolutionary uprising in India in 1857 and was therefore executed by the British colonial rule. The initial analysis of the topic allowed the perception of an insufficient material concerning the scholarly treatment of Pande’s function in White Teeth. Therefore, his representation through the characters perceptions and his role in the novel will be analysed. The initial point of such research refers to key elements of motifs and narrative structure Smith’s; namely an issue of belonging and integration, the significance of (both personal and collective) history and one’s roots. At first, the clear historical background, just as the role and significance of objective history, i.e. historic facts, would be analysed. Subsequently, I will discuss the role Mangal Pande plays in Samad’s life and the significance history plays for him. Following this discussion, I will try to answer the question how other characters think and feel about Mangal Pande. In a concluding chapter, I will try to determine what the importance of this ‘factual’ predecessor to Samad is and discuss the importance of history, family backgrounds and cultural legacies for immigrants who are stuck in a crisis of identity in their new ‘homeland.