Narratives of Trauma, Silence, and Migration in Abdulrazak Gurnah's Fiction

This research paper explores the interwoven themes of trauma, silence, racial discrimination, and migration in the selected works of AbdulrazakGurnah. Drawing on a wide range of scholarly sources and critical perspectives, this paper examines how Abdulrazak Gurnah employs narrative voice, memory, and silence to articulate the psychological and sociopolitical experiences of displaced individuals. Set within a postcolonial framework, the analysis highlights how Gurnah’s fiction engages with the enduring impacts of colonialism, forced migration, and cultural dislocation, offering a nuanced portrayal of identity, belonging, and historical trauma. Focusing on novels such as Pilgrims Way, By the Sea, Paradise, Desertion, Dottie, and The Last Gift, this study analyzes how migration, racial prejudice, and silence function not only as recurring themes but also as narrative strategies used to articulate the fractured identities and deep psychological wounds of Gurnah’s characters. The analysis is grounded in theoretical frameworks drawn from postcolonial studies, trauma theory, and memory studies, which together inform the critical approach adopted in this paper.