Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Semnan University

2 M.A. Graduate in Arabic Language and Literature, Kharazmi University, Tehran

3 M.A. Student of Arabic Language and Literature, Semnan University

Abstract

Postmodernism refers to a wide range of opinions that emerged in the second half of the twentieth century. The Day of the Assassination of the President by Naguib Mahfouz, a contemporary Egyptian novelist, is an example of a postmodernist novel and a metanarrative that seeks to encompass the historical atmosphere of Egypt in its story. In spite of containing manifestations of realism and reflecting some contemporary Egyptian realities, this novel is imaginative in essence. Thus, the purpose of this study is to study the novel as postmodernist fiction and a metanarrative. The findings of the research indicate that, influenced by the school of postmodernism, Naguib Mahfouz seeks to describe the anxieties and bewilderment of contemporary man and his civil disobedience against the current conditions, so that others hear his voice through his fiction. Among the various components of postmodernism, he makes use of paradox, uncertainty, intertextuality, and short circuit more frequently. Intertextuality is particularly evident in the eloquent speech of Mohtashami Zayed because of his exemplary faith. Short circuit is another significant component that is used by Mahfouz when narrating historical events. And incoherence and uncertainty can be seen in every part of the novel. Naguib Mahfouz’s works are the mirror of the Egyptian society since time, place, and historical characters in his story are more eminent compared to fictional characters. Using various postmodern components, he attempts to describe and criticize the inappropriate social, economic, and political conditions of the Egyptian society indirectly, and consequently depicts the organic connection between literature and society and crystallizes social disorders through this genre. By selecting postmodern components, he can illustrate the incompetency of the rulers and the unpleasant socio-economic conditions of Egypt, specifically the issue of poverty.

Keywords

Abdol Razagh Abou al-Ala, A. (1989). Reading Naguib Mahfouz’s Novel The Day of the Assassination of the President/ Illustrating the Moment of the Fall of the Petty Bourgeoisie into a Widening Hole. Story, No. 59, 37-50. [In Arabic].
Allen, G. (2006). Intertextuality. (P. Yazdanjou, Trans.) Tehran: Markaz. [In Persian].
Amin, J. (2012). The Story of the Egyptian Economy. Cairo: Dar al-Shorouk. [In Arabic].
Hamoud, M. (1990). A Study of Text and Discourse, a Study of Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, the Novelist Scholar. Damascus: the Arab Writers Union. [In Arabic].
Karimi, Z. (2014). Investigating Story Elements in Four Novels: The Beggar, The Thief and Dogs, The Day of the Assassination of the President and Rhodopis, the Lover of Pharaoh, Works of Naguib Mahfouz. Sistan and Balouchestan University, the Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences. [In Persian].
Lodge, D, Watt, I., & Daiches, D. (2007). Theories of the Novel. (H. Payandeh, Trans.) Tehran: Niloufar. [In Persian].
Mahfouz, N. (n.d.). The Day of the Assassination of the President. Cairo: Dar al-Mesr. [In Arabic].
Malpas, S. (2009). Postmodern. (B. Behin, Trans.) Tehran: Ghoghnous. [In Persian].
Mansouri, Z. (2018). A Comparative Study of Non-Verbal Communication in Contemporary Stories (A Case Study of The Magnificent Dinner Party and The Day of the Assassination of the President). Razi University. [In Persian].
Mashayekhi, H., & Mirseiedi, S. H. (2016). A Study of the Novel The Day of the Assassination of the President by Naguib Mahfouz Based on Propp’s Theory of Morphology. Lesan Mobin, fall, 8(25), 137-159. [In Persian].
Nazari, A., & Taftahi, J. (2017). The Impact of Religion and Its Instructions on the Novel The Day of the Assassination of the President by Naguib Mahfouz. Studies in Contemporary Literature, No. 3 and 30, 9-33. [In Arabic].
Payandeh, H.  (2004). Critical Discourse. Tehran: Rouzegar. [In Persian].
ــــــــــــــ (2007). Postmodern Novels and Movies. Tehran: Hermes. [In Persian].
ــــــــــــــ (2007). Theories of the Novel by David Lodge, Ian Watt, David Daiches. Tehran: Niloufar. [In Persian].
Pirouz, G., Rezvanyan, G., & Malek, S. (2014). The Historical Metanarrative; A Case Study of A Lizard that Swallowed the Moon. Literary Research, spring, 8(27), 163-186. [In Persian].
Al-Rowili, M., & Al-Bazeye, S. (2002). A Guide to Literary Criticism (3rd ed.). Morocco: The Arab Cultural Center of Dar al-Bayza. [In Arabic].
Selden, R., & Widowson, P. (2005). A Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory. (A. Mokhber, Trans.) Tehran: Tarh-e-Now. [In Persian].
Shamisa, S. (2004). Literary Criticism. Tehran: Ferdowsi. [In Persian].
Tadayoni, M. (2009). Postmodernism in Fiction. Tehran: Elm. [In Persian].
Yaghoubi Janbe Sarayee, P., Hoseini Moakher, S. M., & Mohammadi, K. (2015). Aspects of the Stylistic Element of Paradox in Postmodern Persian Novels According to the Works of Brahani, Ravanipour, Khosravi and Kateb. Literary Research, fall, 12(49), 125-150. [In Persian].
Yazdanjou, P. (2015). Postmodern Literature. Tehran: Markaz. [In Persian].