International Journal of Language & Literature

Satire and Irony in Emily Naralla's Novel Flight against Time
Yaseen Kittani, Fayyad Haibi

Abstract
This study attempts to reveal the role of Satire in the dialectic of Staying and Emigration in Emily Naralla's novel, Flight against Time, (Naralla 2001) which was created out of the Lebanese Civil War in three main axes: language, character and event, in addition to the literary techniques that Satire generally adopts, and which fit with the three previous axes to achieve the satiric indication and effect. Being an 'anatomical' writing tool that is bitterly critical, Satire managed to 'determine' this dialectic to the advantage of the first side (Staying) due to its psychologically defensive feature that enables the character to determine this conflict in the darkest and most complicated circumstances. Undoubtedly, Satire reinforces the indication of Staying in extremely unusual conditions of the Lebanese Civil War and its indirect 'call' that the text tries to convey to all the Lebanese, with no exception, to hold fast to their homeland and defend it, specifically at the time of ordeal. Satire shows also the clear tendency towards the first side (Staying) of this dialectic in the three axes. Language contributed also to Rawan's expression of this desire directly and indirectly. Rawan was not far from taking this decisive decision in his explicit and implicit behavior, movements and desires. The events constitute a third pillar that reinforces this decision and establishes it as a critical and indisputable one. The voice of Staying beats the voice of Emigration and consequently, the voice that repeatedly emphasizes that the Homeland (Lebanon) is above all overcomes!

Full Text: PDF      DOI: 10.15640/ijll.v3n1a25