Identity and Self-Assertion under Colonialism: A Study in the Novels of Bushra Abu Sharar

الهوية وإثبات الذات في ظل الاستعمار: دراسة في روايات بشرى أبو شرار

Abstract

Identity is one of the most fundamental concepts in the existence and survival of nations, and it represents the collective consciousness of people across historical, cultural, linguistic, and national dimensions. In the Palestinian context, identity has faced unique challenges due to colonial and settler projects that aimed not only at occupying the land but also at erasing memory and distorting national consciousness. This paper explores the theme of identity and self-assertion in the novels of Bushra Abu Sharar, whose literary works highlight the resistance of Palestinians against colonial erasure and emphasize their determination to preserve cultural and national belonging. Through her characters and narratives, Abu Sharar depicts the struggles of individuals and communities as they negotiate their sense of self under the weight of oppression and displacement. The study examines how identity in her novels is not a static attribute but a dynamic process shaped by struggle, resilience, and interaction with colonial realities. It also illustrates the role of memory, heritage, and resistance in strengthening the Palestinian identity, turning literature into a weapon of survival and cultural continuity. The research argues that Bushra Abu Sharar’s narratives provide a profound literary testimony of Palestinian endurance, affirming that identity emerges stronger in the face of denial, and that the assertion of the self is inseparable from the collective struggle for freedom and existence.