Immigration Theme in Elif Shafak's Novels
Immigration Theme in Elif Shafak's Novels

Author(s): Reyhana Jafarova
Subject(s): Studies of Literature, Turkish Literature, Other Language Literature, Migration Studies
Published by: Transnational Press London
Keywords: immigration; immigration literature; Turkish American literature; Elif Shafak;
Summary/Abstract: Immigration factor played a certain role in the formation of the world public social idea. At all times, societies had to leave places they lived for other places. Immigration can be designated as people's leaving their places for other areas or countries, temporarily or permanently on social, political and economic reasons. Therefore, immigration influenced social factors such as policy, economy, geography and culture. This manifested itself particularly, in the literature which is an integral part of the culture. Immigration literature is a distinct example of this effect. Contemporary American immigration literature is the result of people's mass flow to the United States of America. This literature is comprised by the works of immigrant writers representing different ethnic groups. The purpose of this paper is to examine immigration theme based on the novels by Elif Shafak. She is one of the authors who played a great role in the formation and development of Turkish American literature, which is a comparatively young branch of American immigration literature. The cases in her novels are based on different nationalities, cultures and countries. Belonging to a certain nation is of less importance in her novels. She tries to reveal her heroes' identity from multicultural perspective.

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