Negotiating Past and Present in the Construction of New Identities in Gurnah

الملخص

Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Nobel Prize-winning author, explores themes of migration, displacement, and identity in his novels. Pilgrim’s Way (1988) and By the Sea (2001) feature protagonists— Daud, Saleh Omar, and Latif Mahmood—who struggle to balance their past with their present as they search for belonging in unfamiliar places. These characters construct cultural identities by grappling with memory, adapting to new environments, and confronting social challenges. Their identities remain fluid, shaped by the constant interplay between past experiences and present realities. Drawing on postcolonial theory and literary analysis, the discussion focuses on how exile and migration compel individuals to reshape their sense of self amid alienation, racism, and loss. Gurnah’s characters demonstrate resilience as they navigate fractured identities and rebuild a sense of belonging. This analysis engages with broader scholarly conversations on migration and postcolonial identity to contextualize Gurnah’s work within diasporic literature. By studying these novels, this paper offers a deeper understanding of how the past and present interact in shaping new identities in the context of exile and migration.