The closed and open space in the novel "The Yunus Family's Sacrifice" by Ahmed Khairi

Abstract

A literary work can only be built on fundamental foundations that give it spirit and depth, rendering it a mirror reflecting the human being's inner and outer worlds. Among these foundations, place stands out as a vital element without which no literary work can be imagined as complete. It is an active partner in crafting the story, shaping the characters' identities, and even in breathing life into ideas and symbols. In literature, place resembles a vessel that embraces all the text's components and influences their progression, such as time, conflict, and language, presenting the reader with a cohesive world that is easy to immerse themselves in and contemplate its details.  Thus, the role of place in "Qurban Al Yunis" is not limited to being an aesthetic framework, but extends beyond that to become a language expressing identity, memory, and culture, or even a tool for critiquing reality and summarizing its complexities. Here, the author's skill is evident in transforming geographical space into a semantic space carrying layers of meaning, enriching the reader's experience and making them a witness to a hidden dialogue between humans and the environment. If literature is the offspring of both reality and imagination, then place is the bridge that connects them, affirming that creativity is inseparable from the land that nurtures it, nor from the space that creates it.

This article attempts to shed light on the essential importance of place in literary structure and how to employ it to serve the artistic vision of the narrative component.  The novel Qurban Al Yunis sheds light on the struggle for identity and belonging through the character of "Suhaib," an American engineer of Iraqi origin, who finds himself torn between his Eastern roots and his Western reality. The novel presents a critical vision of history as a living force shaping the present and driving the reconstruction of people and places.

In this study, we relied on a descriptive-analytical approach that helps understand the context in which the place appears, including the social and cultural factors that influence the text.