Identity and Belonging in Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire

Abstract

This article examines Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire through the lens of psychoanalysis theory, focusing on the characters' struggles with identity and belonging. Employing Freudian concepts, the study analyzes Isma, Aneeka, Parvaiz, and Eamonn to uncover how their unconscious desires, defense mechanisms, and familial dynamics influence their actions. The study demonstrates how the internal conflicts of each character— Isma, Aneeka, Parvaiz, and Eamonn—represent a constant and tragic struggle between the Id, Ego, and Superego, shaping their actions and identities. Additionally, the analysis reveals how the characters navigate complex cultural identities as British Muslims, grappling with assimilation, tradition, and societal judgment. This study enriches the understanding of Home Fire and contributes to broader discussions of identity and belonging in diasporic literature.