DIASPORIC ELEMENTS: NOSTALGIA, IDENTITY, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF DISPLACEMENT IN AUSTRALIAN NOVELS

Abstract

This article examines the portrayal of nostalgia, displacement, and identity in Australian diasporic literature, focusing on four novels: Bring Larks and Heroes (Keneally, 1967), Seasonal Adjustments (Khan, 1994), A Change of Skies (Gooneratne, 1999), and Stone Sky Gold Mountain (Riwoe, 2020). Through the experiences of protagonists navigating migration, exile, and cultural dislocation, these texts reveal how nostalgia functions both as a coping mechanism and a medium for preserving cultural heritage. The study explores psychological and emotional dimensions of migration, highlighting themes such as identity crisis, insider-outsider syndrome, intergenerational echoes, and gendered marginalization. By analyzing sensory-rich memories, reflections on home, and tensions between past and present, the article demonstrates how diasporic individuals negotiate belonging and identity in unfamiliar contexts. Ultimately, the research underscores the role of memory and nostalgia in shaping individual and cultural identities, illustrating the bittersweet and ambivalent nature of the migrant experience.