VYGOTSKY’S SOCIO-CULTURAL THEORY: A TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIOCULTURAL DEBATES IN BROKEN VERSES BY KAMILA SHAMSIE

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the elements of Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Theory from the postmodernist novel Broken Verses by Kamila Shamsie. Kamila Shamsie has dealt with the socio-cultural issues of modern Pakistan and in flash backs the old Pakistan of 1980s during General Zia’s military dictatorship. The protagonist of this novel, Aasmaani Inqlab, is obsessed with the drastic memories of the past. She is confused, perplexed, indecisive and agitated. She oscillates between the past and the present. This study extracts out the slow mental development of the protagonist through inter-psychological and intra-psychological processes. Socio-cultural theory by Vygotsky stresses upon the increase in cognition due to mediation. Both human and symbolic mediation help to develop learner’s abilities and capabilities. The social circle and cultural tools help to take the protagonist out of inflicting past to the soothing present. It is mysterious and the mystery is revealed with the help of language and translation. The ritual of mourning over the dead and putting mud over the grave proves cathartic.