Narratives of exile and belonging : a comparative ecocritical and postcolonial reading of Abdulrazak Gurnah and Leila Aboulela’s fiction

Abstract

Postcolonial migration has created alarming complex narratives of displacement, identity crisis, and Trauma studies. Hence, in the contemporary literature, themes related to Trauma, Exile, and migration studies have become more evident. In contemporary literature, writers like Abdulrazak Gurnah and Leila Aboulela have emerged as indigenous voices articulating the tensions and trauma within the diasporic existence. This study presents a comparative analysis of their selected novels, delving deep into how each author portrays exile, memory, and the search for identity. Postcolonial Theory, Diaspora Studies, and Identity Theory have been the major theories adopted to analyse the texts. Further, this study also explores the cultural landscapes shaped by the colonial histories. Using qualitative research methods, the study analyzes Gurnah’s By the Sea and Admiring Silence, alongside Aboulela’s Translator and Minaret. The findings reveal that both authors place exile as a space of both suffering and self-renewal, where memory, religion, and hybridity serve as concepts of identity negotiation. While Gurnah presents a more fragmented and melancholic view of displacement in his novels, Aboulela often grounds her protagonists in spiritual resilience and cultural continuity. Both writers focus more on migration and exile studies in their writings. In comparison, their works contribute to a richer understanding of postcolonial subjectivity and the evolving dynamics of diasporic identity in literature. This comparative study highlights how narrative becomes a crucial way of reclaiming agency amidst dislocation and loss.