The main objective of this article is to analyze the ways in which Adriana Lisboa represents migratory dislocations and urban space in Hanói (2013). In discussing literature as a space for representation, I will argue that the spaces of migration in Lisboa's novel are constructed in relation to the protagonists', Alex and David, reflections and memories. In this mode of representation, it is possible to notice an emphasis on the characters' emotions, feelings and thoughts as a means to reflect upon the migrant's conditions in an American metropolis. In this sense, Lisboa aims to convey a collective history of migration through Alex's and David's individual histories. However, I will argue, there are ethical limitations in the representation proposed by Lisboa, especially regarding the emphasis on melancholia and isolation as the main affective reactions to migratory dislocations, since they hinder more critical reflections on the political and socio-economic consequences of migration in contemporary societies.
migration; melancholia; urban space; Adriana Lisboa