(In) the Name of the Other; Albanian Migrants in Contemporary Greek Fiction and the Role of Naming

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of the main character in Michalis Malandrakis’ short novel, Patriot (2018). The protagonist, an Albanian migrant in Greece, is compelled to change his name and (re) invent his identity to achieve his goals in the new country. Agim becomes Yiannis (John) and ultimately dies as Yiannis. The novel engages in an open dialogue with theoretical questions about the self and the Other, subjectivity and objectivity, as well as the feeling of “belongingness.” This paper addresses several questions: What role does the self-narrator play in constructing an identity? To what extent is the protagonist welcomed into this new world after his name change? What must he sacrifice to become accepted? And to what extent can a person (re)invent their identity? Keywords: Contemporary Greek Fiction, Albania, Other, Self, Name, Identity

Keywords

• albania
• contemporary greek fiction
• identity
• self
• otherness