Bloodline Order and Sculpted Self: A Psychological Study on the Characters of Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire

Abstract

Siblings have the key to understanding the inner self of one another, opening the doors of childhood. Fate makes them constant companions who share their entire childhood, which helps them predict or solve problems for each other since they share their developmental period. The love they provide can be compared to parental love, the arguments they have can be compared to the fights of cats and dogs, and the protection and rights they have for each other are beyond comparison. Thus, their bond defines the inner self, identity, and much more. Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie narrates the intersecting lives of siblings where the choices made by one shape the entire siblings’ lives. Through her strong political narratives and soulful depiction of familial bonds, Shamsie encourages readers to discover the dimensions of love and identity. Alfred Adler’s Birth Order theory proposes the order of siblings and their traits, which are constructed under social norms. It talks about how the position of each person in the family influences their personality and psyche. By applying Alfred Adler’s Birth Order theory, this paper strives to unfold the importance of siblings in one’s life. This paper focuses on the sibling connection that alters their entire paths of life, reshaping their aspirations and even redefining their nationality and identity. It strives to highlight the important role of siblinghood, which makes them, as companions, to support and nurture each other to elevate their lives.