The Duality of Emotions: Exploring the Protagonists’ Detachment and Bonding in Exit West by Mohsen Hamid through The Attachment Theory

Abstract

Exit West is an influential novel that pursues the journey of two beloveds as they embark on their relationship amid the invasion of their city by extremists, resulting in its devastation and forcing them to emigrate to Europe. The novel explores the convoluted and complex emotions the couple experiences during their journey, revealing their conflicting feelings toward each other. As they face various challenges and obstacles, their love is put to the test, and they struggle to keep it alive. Therefore, the present analysis looks into how the aspects of dual emotions can be portrayed by various factors within the narrative and character development. More precisely, It explores how these emotions change because of the traumas that the protagonists witnessed or endured and how these influence their interactions using the textual analysis following the principles of the attachment theory.