Diaspora and hybridity in Ahdaf Souif's Aisha

Abstract EN

Ahdaf Soueif s novels and short stories mainly tackle the misinterpretations that move in the spaces between East and West.

Aisha (1983) reads as an authentic, original literaiy production that has been written by this original and creative Arab female writer, whether we regard it as belonging to Arab literature, or to English literature or even Euro-Arab literature.

It does not only explore these misconceptions but also puts forward so many questions about clash of cultures, hybridity, politics, the history of Egypt and life there.

Since the second half of past century, questions related to identity have been regularly asked, resulting from the increased impact of globalization and cultural hybridization.

Culture is one of the bases that play a great role in shaping and determining one’s identity.

In soueif s Aisha, cultural difference has led to inner and outer identity crises of a lot of characters, it is certainly not a process that occurred over night, but transformations need time, as in Aisha’s case when she travelled all the way from Egypt to England.

Connected with identity crisis, are two postcolonial key terms namely hybridity and Diaspora which not only gave rise to identity crisis but triggered it time and again through character’s course of actions.

It is not only Aisha, the protagonist of novel, who is affected after crossing borders, but her husband too has gained a greater degree of English culture’s influence.

These characters could not escape the danger of being mixed into alien culture and religion by living in a Western country.

Aisha tried to secure herself from becoming a victim of identity crisis resulting from Hybridity and Diaspora.

Identity crisis, Diaspora and Hybridity are interconnected terms when it comes to culture and especially when it underlines the religion.

These elements are the core of postcolonialism which refers to the period after the dissolution of colonial powers in the world.