Reception of Narratives across Cultures, Time and Spaces, through the Lens of Colonial Impact: Journey of a Chinese Legend and the Literary Works of Shakespeare

Abstract

Colonization, as a historical phenomenon, marks the exchange of thoughts, narratives and different story-telling from one geo-political environment to the other. In the time of reception, the contemporary political and literary movements of the receiver’s position play a vital role in shaping the narrative keeping accordance with its need of the moment, but keeping the crux intact. This paper explores the journey of a Chinese legend from East to West, getting nurtured and molded there, and then, further being received in South Asia. This comparative perspective expounds the relevance of reception theory under the lens of colonialism and studies the journey of Shakespearean texts in the time of colonialism in India.