The Theme of Emigration of the Four Main Characters in Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, a Novel by Laila Lalami

Hope and other unsafe pursuits was the first novel by Laila Lalami. The book was 1st published in 2005. The plotting of the book requires into account emigration as the central theme. The author discusses migration about the four major characters Faten, Aziz, Murad and Halima. The course of events takes place amongst Spain and Morocco. The book gives a broader scope of the element of illegal emigration in between Africa and America. In an attempt to clarify the whole phenomena of migration, Laila offers a documentary of the lives of the characters ahead of relocation and after the emigration. This assists to establish the contributing elements to the act and the consequent fate of migration. In this discussion, a comparison of two of the 4 primary characters will be reviewed. The analysis will support to clarify what the author says about emigration about the characters.

Emigration is brought about by the urge to financial stability. As evident among the characters, their poor economic status is the primary element that drives them to migration from Morocco to Spain. Faten, for instance, is expelled from college since of influencing Noura, the daughter of Larbi Amrani to join the Muslim religion. Faten lacks academic credentials and cannot safe any job in Morocco. She decides to board the raft to Spain with hopes of securing a position and establishing herself economically. Similarly, Aziz Amor is the urge to supply for his young loved ones. Nevertheless, Casablanca stands out to be riddled with poverty, unemployment and financial depression. As he boards the raft to Spain, Aziz has higher hopes of receiving a nicely-paying job to create his family members. To these amongst the other characters, emigration stands out to be the only hope for much better living (Lalami 2005 p. 56-78).

The author regards the act of emigration as vulnerable to the migrants. Most emigrants engage in illegal immigration in an attempt to cut down the price. This entails them in risky circumstances. Aziz Amor and Faten amongst other characters board a raft to take them across the lengthy journey of about fourteen kilometers. Utilizing a float in the deep waters is risky as it can easily capsize. These characters are also forced to jump out of the raft and swim the remaining portion of the journey to the shores, risking to be drowned. The two characters engage in poor episodes to accomplish their mission. Lucky adequate, they are not caught by the Spanish Guardian Civil, who could have deported them back to Morocco (Lalami 2005 p. 80-122).

The accomplishment of the emigration mission all depends on luck. The probability of the emigrants reaching their purposes in states they immigrate to is unpredictable. Laila disapproves the migrants’ perception of establishing a much better life in their new nationalities. Faten’s hope of obtaining a better life turns in to a unsafe pursuit when she falls into prostitution as her only supply of living in Spain. She lacks credentials and can not secure herself a excellent job in Spain. Faten ends up living a hopeless life, worse than her life in Morocco. All her clients give Faten empty promises of a greater living. Aziz Amor’s first attempt to immigrate to Spain is all in vain. He is deported back to Morocco. His second attempt is successful, and Aziz settles in Spain. Nonetheless, it requires Aziz 5 years to safe a job and establish himself. He rents himself an apartment and can afford to send cash property to his household. This offers the constructive side of emigration but equally calls for patience. The success of the migrants can nevertheless not be predetermined.