And I Become Her

Abstract

This thesis is a novel written in the first-person point of view with two characters, Jamila and Bella. The two protagonists are identical twins who got separated at birth. The novel addresses cultural effects and explores the role of upbringing in shaping the twins' identities. Jamila is raised by her father in Saudi Arabia while Bella is raised by her mother in the United States. The storyline starts when the two sisters meet in Atlanta, Georgia, 18 years after the separation. Jamila studies business administration at Georgia Tech while Bella studies creative writing at SCAD. Each one of them get entangled in a love triangle that overlaps with the other and discover the truth about their being twins. In a twisted turn of events, they decide to trade places with one another and consider switching their fiancées. They both experience how it feels to be the other twin, which inspires the name of the novel, And I Become Her. Through the life swap, the readers live through the twins as they discover cross-cultural aspects and explore intriguing questions about identity and love.