The Quest of Identity in Ahdaf Soueif’s

Abstract

This dissertation examines the quest of identity in the work of the Egyptian diasporic writer Ahdaf Soueif, The Map of Love, first published in 1999. The fact that she is an Egyptian who writes in English automatically raises the quest of identity. Thus, this work celebrates the modification in the Egyptian identity during colonial and post-colonial era, and the way Egyptian identity appears nowadays. This thesis shed lights on the manner Egyptian identity is revealed in Soueif’s work. It also helps to learn how constant Egyptian society is with what used to be. This research is conducted counting on the application of the post colonial theory for it is the most suitable for the subject matter. The Map of Love showcases an interesting identity problem that Egyptian society is undergoing, which is all resulted by successive occupations of Egypt. One of them is the British occupation, which colloquial hybridity and an identity questioning. With the constantly changing and progressing events, the Egyptian identity, or any other, will be adjusted.