REFLECTING ON THE MIGRATION EXPERIENCE OF THE MOROCCAN DIASPORA IN HAFID BOUAZZA’S NOVEL, PARAVION (2003)

The article aims to explore the fictional rendering of the migration experience of the Moroccan diaspora in the Netherlands through the analysis of Hafid Bouazza’s novel, Paravion. The study highlights the “Muslim-Dutch question” and the complex issues of cultural identity. Hafid Bouazza is a Dutch writer of Moroccan origin. In the collection of short stories Abdullah’s Feet and in the novel Paravion, the author explores the themes of migration, identity, and cultural interaction. In the novel, Hafid Bouazza creates an allegorical world where Morea symbolizes the traditional Muslim world, and Paravion represents the Netherlands. These spaces are juxtaposed through the dichotomy of “self” and “other” which is reflected in the descriptions of landscapes, gender roles, social norms, and mutual perceptions. The novel addresses themes of assimilation and cultural shock, suggesting the impossibility of full integration due to social constructs and stereotypes. The main characters find themselves in conflict between the desire to adapt to a new society and the need to preserve their original identity. The author emphasizes the process of mutual “othering” through stereotyping and exoticization, which hinders reciprocal understanding. The central idea is the insurmountability of cultural boundaries, which complicates the construction of hybrid identity. Hafid Bouazza skilfully demonstrates how migrants change under the influence of their new environment while simultaneously bringing their own cultural values, which transform the host society. The study also emphasizes the role of literature as an efficient medium in fostering intercultural understanding and shaping public discussions.