Dislocated Identity: Repatriation and Desire for Homeland in SusanAbulhawa’s Mornings in Jenin
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Abstract
This research analyzes Susan Abulhawa’sMornings in Jeninfrom the view point
of Palestinian repatriation and desire for homeland.After the formation of Israel in
1948, the EinHod villagers in the novelnot only confine to the refugee camps within
their homeland, but also compel to set their journey to neighboring Arab countries. The
Abulheja familycreatesimaginary homeland in their mindset as they suffer a lot
moving from refugee camps to another for their survival. Amal feels stateless and
rootless in the foreign land.Herconstant longing for a lost homeland and strong
attachmentto Palestine shows how the dispersed Palestinians have strong connection
to the country.The way Palestinian peoplescattered in the different refugee camps
become united and raise their voice for their returningshowsthe unification of
dispersed networks of people having the same sentiment.The characters in the novel
recalltheir past and want to be attached with by gone days. Drawing form the
scholarly ideas from Helen Lindholm Schultz, Juliane Hammer and other scholarly
critics, the researchers attempts to analyzeAbulhawa’sMorningsin Jeninas the text
containingthe issues of Palestiniandislocated identityand their dream for repatriation
more than assimilation and settlement in their homeland.
Key Words:Homeland,displacement,nostalgia,imaginary homeland, diaspora and
repatriation.