DISPLACEMENT AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: READING SALT HOUSES
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan presents a profound exploration of displacement, migration, and cultural identity within the Palestinian diasporas experience. Through the multi-generational narrative of the Yacoub family, the novel examines the emotional and psychological consequences of exile caused by political conflict and forced migration. This article analyzes how displacement shapes cultural identity in Salt Houses by focusing on themes of memory, belonging, hybridity, and intergenerational trauma. Drawing upon postcolonial and Diaspora theories, particularly the works of Stuart Hall, Homi K. Bhabha, and Edward Said, the study argues that Alyan portrays identity as fluid, fragmented, and continuously negotiated across geographical and cultural boundaries. The article further explores how memory and family history function as mechanisms for preserving cultural continuity amid displacement. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that Salt Houses transforms the Palestinian diasporic experience into a broader reflection on migration, loss, and the enduring search for belonging in a globalized world.
Kali, A. (2026). Displacement and Cultural Identity: Reading Salt Houses. International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, 02(05). https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.215
Kali, A.. "Displacement and Cultural Identity: Reading Salt Houses." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology, vol. 02, no. 05, 2026, pp. . doi:https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.215.
Kali, A.. "Displacement and Cultural Identity: Reading Salt Houses." International Journal of Science, Strategic Management and Technology 02, no. 05 (2026). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsmt.v2i5.215.