The Search for Redemption: A Jeremiadic Analysis of Once in a Promised Land

Abstract

This study analyzes Laila Halaby’s Once in a Promised Land through the lens of the American Jeremiad theory to explore how the novel reflects the unfulfilled promises of the American Dream for Muslim immigrants after 9/11. Using a qualitative research methodology and the technique of close textual analysis, the study examines how the novel exposes discrimination, loss of rights, and rising suspicion toward Muslims in the United States. The Jeremiad framework helps highlight the gap between America’s ideals of freedom, equality, and justice and the lived experiences of the characters who face prejudice and social exclusion. By tracing the tension between hope and disappointment, the study shows how Halaby critiques America’s moral responsibility and challenges the nation to confront the contradictions within its identity. The results advance a deeper understanding of post-9/11 Muslim representation in American literature and reveal how fiction can question national myths and call attention to issues of human dignity and social justice.

Keywords: Muslims, Americanness, Discrimination, post 9/11, Jeremiad