This study examines the psychological changes and identity development of the protagonist in Colm Tóibín's novel Brooklyn (2009) through the lens of the migration process. Drawing upon psychological concepts such as intrapsychic conflict, refuelling, temporal continuity, subjective-selfsameness, second individuation of adolescence, and ethnic conscience, proposed by Salman Akhtar, an influential psychoanalyst and author, in his book Identity and Immigration (1999), this research explores the protagonist's journey as the protagonist relocates from Ireland to America. Other related concepts such as diaspora, displacement, diaspora identity, host population, and ethnicity that are embedded within the context of migration, are frequently referred to and discussed. By analysing key moments in the narrative, the study reveals the protagonist’s psychoanalytical struggles and the subsequent outcomes of sacrifice and reward, which contribute to her personal growth in the context of migration. The study highlights the protagonist's navigation of the tensions between her understanding of the homeland and the promises of a new country, leading to a more developed sense of self-discovery and self-fulfilment. By examining the psychological mechanisms involved in migration, this study sheds light on the potential effects on identity development. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities and costs associated with carving an accomplished identity in the face of migration.
