Déjalo, ya volveremos: fantasies of integration in Esther Bendahan

Abstract

The book Déjalo, ya volveremos, by Esther Bendahan, 2006, tells the story of a Sephardic Jewish family that migrates from Tetuam, Morocco, to Madrid. From the perspective of Reina’s character, the book weaves complex situations about her family’s integration in Spain. The theme of integration and cultural assimilation can be seen as a poignant question to be addressed in this novel. This is true particularly for Reina who suffers from prejudices and from being casted out, never belonging to any of the spaces in which she circulates. In an attempt to reflect upon the idea of integration, we seek to better understand this concept taking into consideration the novel written by Bendahan, the essays Integration Images by Hugo Achugar, and the work by Regina Igel called “Acculturation and Assimilation”. It was also considered the novel solutions presented in Reina’s fantasies regarding this issue