The transcultural novel Jasmine, by Bharati Mukherjee, represents racial and ethnic identities through attitudes and values regarding `East' and `West'. Through exploring the journey of a woman and her many identities, the influence of language, form and, imperialism and post-colonialism context become evident. Clearly, constructs of people contribute to the ideologies and binarisms of race and ethnicity.

Throughout the novel, the concept of binarism creates the two constructs of "East" and "West", producing racial and ethnic, identities and differences. Passage one develops this binary opposition between "East" and "West", exploring the relationship of India and America; the influence of the western world on the people of the east. The aftermath of British imperialism in India has greatly affected India as a whole, which can be seen through Jasmine's life. From the very beginning of the novel and her life, Jasmine has been influenced by the idea of white...