Emigrants´ national identity as depicted in Ecuadorian stories

Abstract

An analysis of Ecuadorian national identity as displayed by emigrants depicted in stories published between 1974 and 2014 is presented in this paper. Using a theoretical basis stemming from social and human sciences and combined with documentary research literature, a complex yet fruitful literary recreation of Ecuadorian national identity is achieved, as rendered by the characters in the stories analyzed. This essay’s analytical content is broken down into three sections: the characters´ Ecuadorian national identity, depicting people who have emigrated to more developed countries of the northern hemisphere, in particular the United States and Spain;  the main distinguishing features of this national identity´, taking into account an analysis of the Ecuadorian landscape, the question of ethnicity, the three-colored flag and sport; and finally, the production and enjoyment of music as another distinguishing feature of Ecuadorian national identity among emigrants while they stay away from their home country.