Abstract

This article examines the theme of recognition in Inaam Kachachi’s novel The American Granddaughter, utilizing Axel Honneth’s theory to analyze the protagonist, Zeina Benham, and her quest for recognition in both the United States and Iraq. Zeina grapples with the challenge of leveraging her experiences in war-torn Iraq to attain financial and social recognition in the US, while simultaneously confronting her grandmother with deceptive narratives to gain recognition in Iraq. Despite her efforts, Zeina remains unsuccessful in achieving recognition in either country. The first section analyzes the crisis of recognition in Iraq, emphasizing Honneth’s paradigm and the struggle for rights. The second section delves into Zeina’s economic, cultural, and social challenges in America, highlighting her quest for acknowledgment and belonging. The third section addresses the themes of ruptured family ties and cultural loyalties, illustrating how these dynamics reflect the broader human need for recognition. Finally, the fourth section reflects on the tragic consequences of her failure to gain recognition. Zeina’s crisis of dual recognition drives the novel’s conflicts, portraying her as “invisible” in Honneth’s terms, caught between past, present, and future aspirations.