MAGICAL REALISM AND META-FICTION IN PAKISTANI ANGLOPHONE FICTION: A POSTMODERN STUDY OF HUSSAIN’S ANOTHER GULMOHAR TREE

Abstract

This study examines Another Gulmohar Tree as a symbolic character in Aamer Hussein's novella within the framework of postmodern literary theory. A vibrant and fleeting South Asian tree, the Gulmohar serves as a complex metaphor for memory, displacement, and the breakdown of identity. The present study investigates two postmodern stylistic features: magical realism and metafiction. Taking Gulmohar tree as a symbol, this study illustrates how Hussein employs natural imagery to construct a narrative that reveals postmodern elements. Ultimately, the novella stands as a subtle yet meaningful example of postmodern South Asian writing, notably characterised by metafiction and magical realism. The research is important because it enhances understanding of how to interpret the selected text. The findings indicate that Pakistani literature in English contains postmodern features, and fictional narratives can be analyzed in accordance with postmodern critical theory.