MIGRATION AND DISPLACEMENT IN BARBARA KINGOLVER’S WORKS

Abstract

Migration is a defining global issue shaped by economic instability, political persecution, and environmental crises. Literature has long explored its human dimensions, offering intimate portrayals of those caught in political and social upheaval. Barbara Kingsolver stands out among contemporary American writers for addressing migration comprehensively, moving beyond traditional narratives to examine its structural causes and personal struggles. Her novels depict migrants as resilient and vulnerable, navigating hostile political landscapes and challenging dominant narratives that reduce them to passive victims or economic burdens.                                                                                                                         This work examines migration and displacement in Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees (1988), focusing on the socio-political forces that drive migration, the struggles of displaced individuals, and the ethical responsibilities of host societies. Through close textual analysis and secondary sources, it examines Kingsolver’s portrayal of migrants, their adaptation, and the systemic barriers they face. Situating her work within broader migration discourse, this study demonstrates how Kingsolver critiques Western intervention in developing nations and exposes flaws in U.S. asylum policies. Her fiction fosters empathy for migrants while critiquing the structures that hinder their integration, offering a powerful literary voice advocating for justice and compassion toward displaced populations. This thesis investigates and analyzes the moral complexities surrounding displaced individuals, explores themes of exile, adaptation, and systemic oppression, while critiquing U.S. interventionist policies and restrictive immigration laws.

Key Words:  migration, asylum policies, advocating, resilience, displacement, identity, intervention, oppression, resistance.