THE URBAN MULTICULTURAL LANDSCAPE: LONDON AS A HYBRID SPACE

Abstract

This paper examines how Zadie Smith shows London as a mix of cultures in her major works, especially White Teeth (2000) and NW (2012). Using postcolonial and spatial theory, particularly Homi K. Bhabha's ideas on hybridity and Henri Lefebvre's and Edward Soja's thoughts on space, the study looks at how the city acts as both a real and symbolic space for cultural negotiation, identity conflict, and socio-political tension. Smith’s London is a place where class, race, migration, and memory come together, creating a lively but fragmented urban experience. Instead of depicting the city as a joyful multicultural melting pot, Smith highlights the contradictions, alienation, and social gaps that exist within it. Characters like Samad Iqbal, Irie Jones, Natalie Blake, and Leah Hanwell show London as a liminal space, allowing for change while also creating instability. Ultimately, the paper claims that Smith’s portrayal of London reflects the psychological and structural challenges of modern urban life in a globalized, postcolonial Britain.