NAVIGATING NOSTALGIA AND ARAB MUSLIM IDENTITY IN FAQIR’S THE CRY OF THE DOVE: A DIASPORA STUDY

Abstract

Cultural identity is one of the major concerns in Diaspora studies. Cultural identity is revealed through various aspects such as language, religion, socio-cultural norms, nativity, and family values. The current research has been conducted on Fadia Faqir’s novel The Cry of the Dove (2007) under the paradigm of Diaspora theory. It examines how the protagonist’s identity is shaped by migration as she travels between her Arab country and Western territories. This book portrays identity as a dynamic process influenced by social contact, nostalgia, displacement, and cultural disparity. Through the figure of Salma, the narrative highlights the psychological and socio-cultural issues faced by diaspora communities: alienation, displacement, and a sense of belonging. The researcher has employed the theories of diaspora presented by William Safran and Stuart Hall. In the novel, Salma’s evolving identity is examined through Stuart Hall's theory of cultural identity in a multicultural Western setup. Hall's concept of hybridity provides additional insight into how people from diverse cultural backgrounds create mixed identities. William Safran's theory of Diaspora also highlights the importance of home and homeland. Salma's identity is constantly negotiated among tradition and modernization, country and host land, and the past and present.