Resistance and Reconciliation: Shaping a Hybrid Identity in Annahid Dashtgard’s Breaking the Ocean

This paper explores the memoir Breaking the Ocean: A Memoir of Race, Rebellion, and Reconciliation by Annahid Dashtgard as a significant contribution to the discourse of resistance and reconciliation within the context of Iranian diaspora experiences. The memoir vividly portrays the challenges faced by a mixed-race Iranian-Canadian immigrant who fled Iran during the Islamic revolution. By analyzing Dashtgard’s narrative, the study examines the complex dynamics of identity formation and negotiation between Iranians and Westerners, challenging prevailing stereotypes and Orientalist discourses. Drawing upon postcolonial criticism and diaspora studies, the paper highlights the author’s ability to bridge the gap between the West and East, embracing cultural hybridity and offering critiques of both cultures. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates how Dashtgard’s memoir aligns with the tradition of “resistant discourse,” actively engaging with historical, political, religious, and cultural contexts to present a comprehensive and accurate understanding of Iran and Islam. Ultimately, this paper emphasizes the importance of narratives that resist prevailing stereotypes and contribute to a more nuanced and balanced representation of hybrid identities within the Iranian diaspora.

Keywords:

Resistance , Reconciliation , Memoir , Counter-Narrative , Iranian Diaspora , Hybridity