BRIDGING EAST AND WEST: EXPLORING CULTURAL HYBRIDITY IN AMEEN RIHANI’S THE BOOK OF KHALID
BRIDGING EAST AND WEST: EXPLORING CULTURAL HYBRIDITY IN AMEEN RIHANI’S THE BOOK OF KHALID

Summary/Abstract: Ameen Rihani’s The Book of Khalid (1911) is a seminal work of Arab-American literature thatbridges East and West by examining cultural, spiritual, and political exchanges. This paper exploresthe protagonist Khalid as a character who navigates geographical and symbolic worlds, challengingrigid structures of nationalism, colonialism, and cultural conformity. Khalid’s journey from Lebanonto New York and back symbolizes fluid, hybrid identities that go beyond the binary of self and other.His philosophical and spiritual transformation reflects tensions between stability and mobility, resisting colonial hegemony and proposing a transnational vision of identity. By analyzing themes of space, identity, and cultural hybridity, the paper highlights the novel’s engagement with global cultural dynamics in the early 20th century.

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