Journal of Literary Criticism

Journal of Literary Criticism

Sociological criticism of the novel Halimah by Mohammad Al-Arousi Al-Matowi based on Lucien Goldman's theory of developmental structuralism.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Ph.D Candidate, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jlc.2024.477083.1672
Abstract
Sociological criticism is one of the new approaches that have emerged in the field of literature and aims to examine the relationship between literary structure and society. Lucien Goldman based this theory on the interaction between the literary text and the social infrastructure governing the society. In the current research, an attempt has been made to analyze and critique the novel "Halima" by Mohammad Al-Arousi al-Matowi, a contemporary Tunisian writer, in a descriptive-analytical way with a sociological criticism approach and based on Goldman's (1913-1970) developmental constructivism theory. take in this context, an attempt was made to analyze this novel in two stages of reception and analysis in areas such as content, character and political-social contexts. Based on this, according to the mentioned theory, Halimah's novel was analyzed in two stages of reception and analysis. The non-transformation of the characters of the novel during the story, the transformation of the current consciousness of some characters into a possible consciousness, the adaptation of the social political background of the novel to the events of the independence period of Tunisia and the writing of the novel based on social realism are some of the most important results obtained from the present research. Based on this, we witness the reflection of the meaningful structures of the novel in the context of Tunisian society. In the end, this leads to the formation of the protest of the Tunisian people to the existing situation and the attempt for a revolution to change the situation.
Keywords
Subjects

Adhami, J., Jahangiri, P., Didari, C. (2011). “A Sociological Criticism on “Safar” (Traveling) Novel.” Quarterly of Persian Language and Literature,. 7, 35-54. Alaei, M. (2001). Literary criticism and sociology. Ketab-e Mah-e Adabiyat va Falsafeh (Monthly Book of Literature and Philosophy), 11 & 12(47), 20-33. [In Persian] Al-Arusi al-Matwi, M. (2021). Halima. Tunis: Manshurat Zakharif. [In Arabic] Allott, M. (2001). ‎Novelists on the novel. Translated by HaghShenas, A.M. Second Edition. Tehran: Markaz. [In Persian] Al-Qassab, A. (1986). Contemporary Tunisian history 1881–1956 (H. Al-Sahili, Trans.). Tunis: Tunisian Distribution Company (al-Sharika al-Tunisiyya lil-Tawzi ‘). [In Arabic] Asgari, A. (2008). The Evolution of The Theories on The Sociological Criticism of Literature. Adab Pazhuhi, 1(4), 43-64. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/137838/en [In Persian] Dastgheyb, A. (1999). In the Mirror of Criticism. Tehran: Hozeh Honari. [In Persian] Emami, N. (1998). Principles and Methods of Literary Criticism. Tehran: Diba. [In Persian] Fararouti, F. (1998). Lukacs, Goldmann, and the sociology of the novel. In M. J. Pouyandeh (Ed. & Trans.), Introduction to the sociology of literature. Tehran: Naghsh-e Jahan. In Persian] Fazeli, N. (1996). An Introduction to the Sociology of Art and Literature. Social Sciences, 4(7.8), 107-133. https://qjss.atu.ac.ir/article_5164.html?lang=en [In Persian] Ghazizadeh, Sh., Maroof, Y., Zeynivand, T. (2024).” Investigation and analysis of the plot element in the novel " Al-Waba " by Hani Al-Raheb”. Journal Of Narrativestudies, 5, 337 – 369. Goldmann, L. (1997). The connection between literary creation and social life (M. J. Pouyandeh, Trans.). Tehran: Cheshmeh. In Persian] Goldmann, L. (2002).‎ Pour une sociologie du roman. Translated by Pouandeh M.J. Tehran: Cheshmeh. [In Persian] Jazini, M. (1999). Five theoretical categories in fiction literature. Tehran: Nahl. [In Persian] Kowsari, M. (2000). Reflections on the sociology of literature. Tehran: Baz. Mirsadeghi. J; Mirsadeghi, M. (1998). The fiction Dictionary. Tehran: Mahnaz. [In Persian] Moradmand, A., & Rostampour Maleki, R. (2025). Worldview and Problematic Hero in the Novel Al-Tut Al-Morr by Muhammad Al-Arousi Al-Matwi Based on Goldman's Theory of Critical Structuralism. Journal of Arabic Language & Literature, 17(2), 67 - 82. [In Persian] Sartre, J.P. (1991). Qu 'est-ce que la litterature? Translated by Najfi, A: Rahimi, M. Seventh Edition. Tehran: Ketab Zaman. [In Persian] Shahbazi, A., Hosseini, M., & Asgari Hasankaloo, A. (2014). Structuralist criticism of the novel “The Neighbors” by Ahmad Mahmoud. Specialized Quarterly of Fiction Studies, 3(7), 66–90. [In Persian] Sotoodeh, H. (1999). Sociology in Literature. Tehran: Avay-e Noor. [In Persian] Tolooei, V., & Rezaei, M. (2007). The Necessity of The Application of Genetic Structuralism in Sociology of Literature (Genetic Structuralism as Method). Iranian Journal of Sociology (ISA), 8(3), 3-27. SID. [In Persian] Wellek, R, Austin‬, V. (1994). Theory of literature. Tehran: Elmifarhangi Perss. [In Persian]
Volume 10, Issue 19
April 2026
Pages 458-422

  • Receive Date 06 September 2024
  • Revise Date 28 October 2024
  • Accept Date 16 November 2024