Radwa A'shour's Exploration of the Novel's Temporal and Spatial Setting and its Impact

Abstract

Objectives: Time, as an integral and distinctive element in narrative texts, plays a crucial role in the work of a novelist. It serves as a pivotal axis, imbuing the narrative with suspense, rhythm, and the seamless progression of events upon which the entire novel relies. Additionally, the setting, both in terms of time and place, exerts a profound influence on the development of characters throughout the novel. This study aims to delve into the temporal structure of the novel "Al-Tantouriya" to illuminate the significance of the literary work in highlighting the interplay between time, space, and historical events that may have shaped the destinies of a substantial portion of the Arab world. Thus, the research endeavors to answer the following question: How does the relationship between time and place manifest in engendering transformative changes within the novel "Al-Tantouriya"?

Methods: These explorations serve to reveal the deep ideological connection of Rokaya, the novel's central character, to these particular locations.

Results: The novel unequivocally awakens the reader's realistic imagination, fostering a shared experience of emotions, anxiety, fear, and a bleak future through a diverse range of internal and external "flashbacks." These flashbacks effectively portray the resolute defense against incessant invasions of our land, a testament to the author's profound cultural understanding interwoven within the narrative fabric. Thus, we observe Ashour's deliberate focus on temporal dimensions, deftly employing them to enhance the fictional discourse, resulting in "Al-Tantouriya" becoming a novel of unparalleled creative and intellectual beauty. Moreover, the intertwining of time and place assumes ideological and religious dimensions.

Conclusions: By employing a minimal plot, this novel embarks the reader on an extensive narrative journey with the Palestinians, intimately exploring the afflictions and catastrophes that forced them to flee their homeland. Radwa A'shour astutely concentrates on the various settings within her novel, immersing the reader in the poignant reality, stained with the blood of Arab martyrs, with remarkable skill. In this regard, she elevates the historical conflict, encompassing all Arab concerns, particularly the Palestinian issue. The Palestinian camps, including Abu Dabi, Egyptian Camps, Ein Alhilwe in Sidon, Sabra and Shatila, Bourj Barajneh, and Albus Camps, emerge as crucial elements of the spatial backdrop, illuminating the Palestinian existence and the hardships endured after their forced displacement.