Identity and its Reflection in the Novels With Downcast Eyes by Tahar Ben Jelloun and Refugee by Ahmad Mallah

Abstract

Tahar Ben Jelloun's With Downcast Eyes and Ahmad Mallah's Refugee are among the successful novels that deal with the phenomenon of migration and subsequent identity and identity crisis with complete realism. Not only do these writers seek to criticize their traditional societies by addressing social issues, but they also uncover the dark and hidden chambers of human existence with a critical perspective. Since the characters in both novels can represent a wide range of immigrants who have voluntarily or inevitably been forced to leave their homeland, the study of these two novels can be a clear example of the identity crisis and the cracks that immigrants fall into while facing their second homeland and the new world. This article will try to adopt a descriptive-analytical approach through the characters of these two novels and the situations in which they are placed, to draw and study identity construction and gaining identity and also a correct understanding and then researching the challenges that these people face.