Collective Memory and Cultural Identity in the Novels of Rajaa Alim - A Study in Light of Maurice Halbwachs' Theory

This research presents the hypothesis of an ideological purpose behind the cultural narrative production of the novelist Rajaa Alim. It primarily focuses on the author's desire to immortalize the self with a Hejazi cultural identity in the Saudi collective consciousness. This is achieved through a persistent emphasis on memory and the act of remembering as a fundamental theme in many novels, attempting to enrich the memory repository with the customs and traditions that embody life details from a carefully selected period of Hejazi history. The goal is to give it a reference point that proves its authenticity and resists forgetting. To address this hypothesis, the research objectives were defined, including the definition of the concepts of collective memory and cultural identity. The research explores the relationship between these concepts and addresses the relationship between history and narrative. It examines their evolution after the shift in the perception of literature in the postmodern era, transforming it from a passive product with no contribution to the study of nations' cultures to becoming an active factor participating in documenting the environments and cultures of nations. The research also delves into the relationship between collective memory and the self. All these aspects are discussed by linking them to the novels of Rajaa Alim. Regarding the research sample, the practical aspect focuses on the novels "Tariq Al-Hareer" (Silk Road), "Khatam" (Ring), and "Toq Al-Hamaam" (The Collar of the Dove). These novels exhibit a clear theme of remembering linked to the self and, at the same time, to the region's identity through the narrative's focus on ancient history blended with the present. Given the nature of the topic, the research methodology relies on the sociological theory of Maurice Halbwachs in collective memory as a philosophical-theoretical basis. The interpretive approach is employed in the textual analysis, and the data of cultural criticism are utilized in all research aspects.