Between Worlds: Narrating Globalisation, Identity and Alienation in Leila Aboulela’s Short Stories

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of English and Literary Studies Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

2 Department of English Akwa Ibom State University Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract
The possibilities that come with globalisation and the world becoming a global entity are numerous. Some of these raise intense discourse and questions on the subject of cultural and personal identity; alienation and the expectations that these advocate or threaten in contemporary times. Globalisation as a reality of modern times is replete with paradoxes that provide freedom and limitations ultimately for individuals and nations who negotiate these inevitable realities and spaces that come with the prevailing image of a globalised world. The paper argues that the realities of migration, could be contextualised within the complexities and contradictions of globalisation. Two of Leila Aboulela’s short stories are studied in this paper as transnational narratives that recreate immigrant characters and voice cultural and personal identity that confront perceived homogeneity associated with globalisation. The narratives reflect immigrants living between worlds, the conflict engendered by difference and the attempts they make to articulate Self or assimilate the Other in very diverse space(s) away from ‘home’ and familiar realities. The study concludes therefore that, Aboulela’s narratives attest to cultural gaps, conflicted identity, imbalance and the yearnings for a distinct identity as critical.

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Main Subjects

Transcultural Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 April 2022

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