One-Way Journey or Returning Home in the Novel the Path of the Eels by Luan Starova

Globalization is a historical and dialectical process encompassing various cultural elements and dimensions applicable globally, yet inherently characteristic of specific regions and cultures. The Balkans is a region where multiple cultures have interacted, evolved and coexisted over time. In the past, the Balkans were ruled and influenced by many empires; as a result, the region witnessed countless bloody battles. Despite a turbulent and often difficult past, the Balkans have managed to foster cohesion and bring together the states and communities of the region. This research analyzes the concept of a one-way journey and migratory landmarks. Throughout human history, the Earth has been the only homeland that remains unchanged and does not undergo transformation. This paper interprets the novel The Path of the Eels by the Albanian writer Luan Starova, through Stuart Hall’s assertion that Migration is a one-way journey. There is no “nest” to return to. The novel offers a literary exploration of identity. Through The Path of the Eels, the study examines themes of exposure and boundaries—standing at the threshold and hearing the sounds from the other side of the border. It explores how collective identity is formed and represented from a perspective rooted in the past rather than the present. The study also explores the idea of crossing a threshold—stepping beyond the border and entering, conditionally speaking, the ‘ordered’ world of norms and civilization.