Mapping the Palestinian Diasporic Identity through Ghassan Kanafani’s “The Land of Sad Oranges”

This paper endeavours to explore the theme of identity and diaspora in Ghassan Kanafani’s short story “The Land of Sad Oranges” from his collection “Men in the Sun and Other Stories”. The selected story captures the heartbreak of exile and the yearning for a lost homeland. The narrative serves as a powerful exploration of displacement, portraying the emotional and psychological toll on those forced to leave their homes. It transcends the personal, becoming a symbol of collective memory and identity. The narrative employs the orange to represent not only psychological and social devastation but also the broader implications of political displacement. Through qualitative research paradigm backed by the in-depth content analysis, this study delves into how Kanafani delineates with microscopic meticulousness the emotional and familial catastrophes wrought by forced exodus. The story encapsulates the multifaceted dimensions of Palestinian suffering, from the pervasive sense of nostalgia to the harsh acceptance of exile. Kanafani’s depiction of these themes underscores the universal struggle for identity and belonging in the face of displacement and loss, providing an evocative portrayal of the Palestinian experience.