Hybridity and the Quest for Self-Identity: A Critical Analysis of Nadia Hashimi's "Sparks Like Stars" ( 2021)

Abstract

This study addresses the depiction of cultural hybridity and its ramifications on self-identity within Nadia Hashimi's "Sparks Like Stars" (2021), focusing on the protagonist's challenges and opportunities in navigating multiple cultural identities. The research problem centers on understanding the complex interplay between cultural hybridity and individual identity formation in a postcolonial context. Significantly, This approach adds to questions on how literary autobiographical narratives manage cultural hybridity in contemporary society. Employing Peter Morey's theoretical framework on cultural representation, the study aims to dissect the nuanced portrayal of the protagonist's journey towards self-identity, amidst the backdrop of inherited and acquired cultural influences. The novel's intricate exploration of cultural hybridity's impact on identity and the protagonist's struggle and growth as a postcolonial identity symbol.The study concludes by affirming the essential role of cultural hybridity in shaping complex individual identities, thereby enriching the discourse on postcolonial studies and multicultural literature.