Transnational Identity Formation in Contemporary Migrant Fiction: A Study of Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West

Abstract

In the context of increasing global migration, contemporary literature has become a vital space for exploring how identities are formed and re-formed across borders. This paper investigates how Mohsin Hamid’s novel Exit West represents transnational identity formation, focusing on the experiences of its protagonists, Nadia and Saeed. While previous research has examined migrant fiction’s portrayal of displacement and cultural adaptation, less attention has been paid to the ongoing negotiation of identity in rapidly changing global contexts. This study addresses this gap by asking how Exit West uses narrative strategies, characterization, and shifting settings to depict the challenges and possibilities of belonging for modern migrants. Employing a qualitative literary analysis grounded in Homi K. Bhabha’s theory of hybridity, the research analyzes how the novel’s use of magical realism, fragmented narrative structure, and global geography reflect the fluid, in-between status of migrant identity. The findings reveal that Exit West moves beyond simple narratives of exile or assimilation, instead presenting identity as a dynamic process shaped by memory, language, community, and continual negotiation. This study highlights the significance of Hamid’s work for understanding the complexities of transnational identity, suggesting that such fiction plays a crucial role in reimagining the ethics and politics of belonging in today’s interconnected world.