A Sociological Reading of Arabic Proverbs: Al-Midani’s Proverbs Collection as a Case in Point
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35516/hum.v52i3.6308Keywords:
Al-Midani’s Proverbs Collection, sociology, Marxist literature, proverbs, social , social mirroring.Abstract
Objectives: This study aims at providing a sociological reading of Arabic proverbs by highlighting their social and moral aspects. The study examines Al-Midani’s Proverbs Collection to demonstrate sociology’s impact on literature in general and on proverbs in particular.
Methodology: The study uses a sociological approach to examine Al-Midani’s Proverbs Collection. It consists of two sections; the first section focuses on social proverbs, exploring their role in reflecting their social context, whereas the second section delves into Al-Midani’s Proverbs Collection, offering practical examples.
Results: The results of the study reveal the connection between Arabic proverbs and some sociological theories, particularly Karl Marx’s theory of base and superstructure. Moreover, the study highlights Arabic proverbs’ reflection of the prominence of feminine roles as well as some gender-based attitudes towards women.
Conclusions: The study concludes that some of Al-Midani’s proverbs exemplify the so-called social mirroring, as they clearly reflect their social context by highlighting social relationships at the time, human-animal interactions, and other social and behavioral aspects like cooking methods, hospitality, tribal affiliation, etc.
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Accepted 2024-04-08
Published 2025-02-20
