THE WEIGHT OF MANY – RUPTURED CONTINUITIES: REPRESENTATION OF COLLECTIVE TRAUMA AND HEALING IN THE CONTEXT OF WAR AND DISPLACEMENT THROUGH THE NOVEL EXIT WEST BY MOHSIN HAMID

This article explores the complex portrayal of collective trauma and healing in Mohsin Hamid’s novel, Exit West. It examines how the narrative surpasses traditional depictions of trauma by presenting war and displacement as collective crises rather than merely individual tragedies. The novel’s use of Magical Realism, represented by the physical doorways through which refugees pass, acts as a metaphor for catastrophic upheavals in both individual and community history. Ultimately, this paper argues that healing is a process rooted in understanding, connection, and the formation of new sets, rather than a solitary effort, as people navigate their losses and seek a sense of belonging. It also concludes that trauma can catalyse transformation and unity, as well as a force of disintegration. Exit West challenges readers to reevaluate the boundaries between individual and communal history in an increasingly interconnected world by juxtaposing personal sorrow with group resilience. The study employs qualitative analysis, with the novel Exit West as the primary source and related texts and research as secondary sources.