Philippine E-Journals

Dual Loyalties in Arab American Novel: A Case Study of Scattered Like Seeds by Shaw J. Dallal

Ebrahim Mohammed Alwuraafi

Discipline: Literature

 

Abstract:

Dual loyalty refers to the common emotional experience of being pulled in two different directions. It consists of a collective state of mind such that diasporas feel they owe allegiance to both host country and homeland. The study explores the theme of dual loyalties in an Arab American novel, Scattered Like Seeds, by Shaw J. Dallal. The paper uses the qualitative research design involving literary criticism. The results showed that dual loyalties can be usual in terms of their occurrence as a diagnostic phenomenon, but they are unusual and melodic in terms of their effects on the psychology and the social portion of the people affected. The study concludes that dual loyalty as exemplified by Thafer, reaches a point where one belongs to both and none; unable to entirely side with one, Thafer is not accepted by either. He is viewed as an American by the Arabs and an Arab by the Americans. Dual loyalty is like a hyphen, a portion that enables one to impartially see the deformities of each culture.