Dialogic Interplay of Power and Resistance in A Fine Balance: A Bakhtinian Reading

Abstract

This study explores the dynamics of power and resistance in Rohinton Mistry’s fiction, A Fine Balance (2006). The present study is conducted through a Bakhtinian lens. We aim to study the interplay of power dynamics and the acts of resistance in the narrative. This paper analyses how characters negotiate oppressive power systems and how they challenge dominant ideologies. The research focuses on the multidimensional portrayal of power, and the strategies employed by the characters to question the system. We also explore the transformative potential of collective struggle. The study employs Mikhail Bakhtin’s concepts of dialogism, polyphony, and carnivalesque to unveil the complexities of power and resistance. Key scenes and characters' interactions are closely studied to foreground the ways in which power shapes individuals' lives and identities. The individuals fight back and find moments of liberation and freedom from oppression and cruelty. The findings of the study showcase that power relations are fluid and it shows the potential for collective actions and reformation. The study contributes to the understanding of power dynamics in literature and the potential of resistance against all types of oppressive systems. It also highlights the potential relevance of Bathtinian concepts for the analysis of complex social narratives.