Exploring the assemblage of migration: A Deleuzian analysis of Laila Lalami's hope and other dangerous pursuits

Authors

  • Dania Meryan Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan
  • Met’eb Ali Alnwairan Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan
  • Menia Mohammad Almenia Department of English Language and Literature, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1401-2796
  • Marwan Harb Alqaryouti Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3766-9173
  • Ala Eddin Sadeq Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol10iss1pp45-66

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Migration is a multidimensional phenomenon that extends beyond geographical displacement to encompass socio-economic and ideological transformations. Laila Lalami’s Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits (2005) captures migration’s complexities, reflecting themes of deterritorialization and reterritorialization. Using Deleuze and Guattari’s Assemblage Theory, this study examines how these narratives contribute to broader migration discourses, including those relevant to the Asian context, where transnational movements and postcolonial identities shape socio-cultural landscapes.

Methodology: This study employs a qualitative research design, utilizing thematic analysis to explore key passages that illustrate the processes of deterritorialization (disrupting established boundaries) and reterritorialization (reconstructing identity in new contexts). A purposive sampling method was employed to select passages that best represent these themes. The analysis was structured through iterative coding and categorization, enabling the identification of narrative patterns and their alignment with theoretical constructs. The study further examines characters’ identity negotiations and systemic interactions to illuminate the complexities of migration. To ensure analytical rigor, the research process incorporated reflective journaling, peer feedback, and meticulous documentation, fostering transparency and coherence.

Findings: Findings highlight how Lalami’s narrative resonates with global migration struggles. Aziz’s economic sacrifices, Faten’s identity adaptation, and Halima’s resilience offer insights into broader issues of displacement and adaptation. This study underscores migration as a personal and structural phenomenon shaped by colonial histories, economic policies, and transnational networks.

Contributions: By situating Lalami’s narrative within a broader global migration framework, this research extends Assemblage Theory’s applicability, offering nuanced perspectives on migration as a multifaceted and interconnected phenomenon.

Keywords: Assemblage theory, migration, identity, deterritorialization, reterritorialization.

Author Biographies

  • Dania Meryan, Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan

    Dania Meryan is an academic and a university lecturer who holds a PhD from Leicester University, UK. She is currently an assistant professor at the English Language, Literature, and Translation Department, Zarqa University, Jordan. Dr. Meryan research interests includes literary theory and criticism, myth and philosophy.

  • Met’eb Ali Alnwairan, Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan

    Met’eb Ali Alnwairan was born in Zarqa, Jordan, in 1983. He earned his PhD in English Literature and Criticism from the Faculty of Arts at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of English Language, Literature, and Translation at Zarqa University, Jordan. His research interests include AI-assisted language teaching and learning, as well as broader topics in language education.

  • Menia Mohammad Almenia, Department of English Language and Literature, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia

    Menia Mohammad Almenia is an associate professor of English Literature and Criticism at the Department of English Language and Literature at College of Languages and Humanities in Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia, with more than 14 years of teaching English courses at the university. He received his Ph.D. in English Literature & Criticism in 2017 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

  • Marwan Harb Alqaryouti, Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan.

    Marwan Harb Alqaryouti was born in Zarqa, Jordan in 1969. He was awarded his PhD Degree in English Language Studies/American Literature from the Faculty of Languages and Communication at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin in Terengganu, Malaysia. He is currently an assistant professor and the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature at Zarqa University / Jordan.

  • Ala Eddin Sadeq, Department of English Language, Literature and Translation, Zarqa University, Jordan.

    Ala Eddin Sadeq was born in Mafraq, Jordan in 1971. He was awarded his PhD Degree in English Literature from the University of Rajasthan, India in 2000. He is a full Professor of English Literature at Zarqa University / Jordan. Prof. Ala Eddin Sadeq is the Vice President of Zarqa University for Academic Affairs. Professor Ala Eddin is the Secretary General of the English Language International Conference - ELIC.

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Published

2025-02-28

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1: Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Exploring the assemblage of migration: A Deleuzian analysis of Laila Lalami’s hope and other dangerous pursuits. (2025). Journal of Nusantara Studies (JONUS), 10(1), 45-66. https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol10iss1pp45-66