Abstract

This article delves into Abdulrazak Gurnah’s “Admiring Silence,” employing Homi K. Bhabha’s hybridity theory to scrutinize the construction of the postcolonial self. By unpacking Gurnah’s use of silences around memories of colonial violence and experiences of displacement, the article contends that the author challenges conventional notions of identity and belonging, revealing the fragmented nature of the postcolonial subject. Crucially, in the contemporary globalized world, Gurnah’s exploration gains significance. The narrative’s emphasis on cultural hybridity becomes a vital lens through which to understand the complexities of identity in our interconnected world. Characters, navigating liminality, emerge as proactive agents forging new forms of identity in response to the challenges of globalization. Drawing on Bhabha’s “third space,” the article illustrates how Gurnah’s characters occupy liminal spaces between colonizer and colonized cultures, offering a powerful commentary on transcending historical boundaries. This analysis deepens our understanding of postcolonial subjectivity and timely explores how individuals navigate identities in a globally interconnected world.