Fragmented Paths: A Novella and a Journey Through Lands to Find the Self in Home
Abstract
This thesis explores the thematic and narrative intricacies of HomeLand, a novella that delves into the intersections of dreams, memory, and time in the pursuit of identity and belonging. Drawing inspiration from Indigenous and Kurdish philosophies, HomeLand challenges linear conceptions of time and self through a narrative structure that blends magical realism with psychological and cultural exploration. The work questions societal expectations surrounding happiness and fulfillment, drawing on Sara Ahmed’s The Promise of Happiness, and critiques the colonial legacies shaping perceptions of home and identity. Building on these thematic inquiries, the novella engages with Antonio Zadra and Robert Stickgold’s cognitive psychological theories on dreams (When Brains Dream), portraying dreams as pivotal tools for emotional processing, memory integration, and self-discovery. The Aymara philosophy of time, which positions the past as visible and the future as hidden, informs the novella’s fragmented and non-linear structure, reflecting its protagonists’ evolving identities. The thesis situates HomeLand within the broader context of Kurdish literature, addressing how the novella echoes the cultural and historical displacement experienced by Kurdish people while engaging with universal themes of alienation and belonging. Through its narrative, HomeLand interrogates the concept of home, presenting it as both an external and internal construct shaped by personal, cultural, and historical forces. Ultimately, HomeLand argues that the search for home is a fluid and continuous process, highlighting the universal yet deeply personal struggle to reconcile one’s identity in a fragmented world. By integrating insights from literary, cultural, and psychological frameworks, the exegesis positions HomeLand as a contribution to Kurdish literature and as a reflection of the universal human experience.