A Critical Analysis on Identity Crisis in Hala Alayan’s ‘Salt Houses

Abstract

This research aims for the study of identity crisis by highlighting the concepts; nostalgia, homelessness, dislocation, and cultural conflicts in the lives of dispersed, exilic and banished Palestinians by the explanation of Alyan’s debut novel Salt Houses (2017). William Safran’s diasporic theory is employed as a theoretical framework to analyze the issues which were faced by Palestinians diaspora communities for more than 70 years inside and outside the borders. This paper also provides the reasons to prove the significance of one’s identity which stands for one’s origin. It also claims that diasporic Palestinians always believe they are not and perhaps can never be fully accepted by their host societies and they are always considered as outsiders, enemies within country, others and strangers. This research also claims the issue of identity by portraying the mishaps in the lives of Palestinians from the first exodus in 1948 to contemporary period