Masculine identity in Arab(ic) fiction

The Arab world is deeply marked by the challenges and controversies surrounding gender and sexuality, in its societies, cultures, politics, and, most notably, literature. This research study endeavours to address perplexing portrayals and dilemmatic representations related to gender complexity and non-normative sexuality of particular male characters in four Arabic novels: Midaq Alley (Zuqaq al-Midaqq); The Stone of Laughter (Hajar al-Dahk); In the Spider’s Room (Fi ghurfat al-ʻankabut); and, exceptionally, Guapa. In dealing with gender and sexuality as main categories of analysis that are socially and culturally constructed over time, according to Judith Butler in Gender Trouble, the tangled concerns of the chosen narratives offer a noteworthy opportunity to critically examine complex yet thought-provoking depictions of these categories at the level of particular characters and their identities. In so doing, the study devotes in-depth attention to the perception of gender through Butler’s prism, along with non-normative sexuality, which are considered controversial topics both in reality and fiction. In respect of this, the thesis features analytical, critical, and close readings of these novels that are meant to be read, specifically in relation to certain male characters as mentioned above, from Butler’s gender performativity in their venture to challenge essentialist perceptions not only of gender but also of sex and sexuality. This directs the researcher to examine how the Arabic novel broaches and exposes these problematics, shedding light on the (un)doing of masculine gender identity, along with masculinity, as well as the subversion of sexuality. Regarding this, even though addressing homosexuality in Arabic literature has been a notable concern in previous research, dealing with this corner as a conspicuous dilemma in conjunction with gender still represents a critical gap in the Arabic novel. As such, researchers in the field of Arabic literature in relation to gender and sexuality studies have not addressed subversive portrayals of gender and sexuality in a holistic literary and theoretical framework. In addition, Butler’s claims on the (de)construction of gender and sexuality have not yet been implemented and illustrated through an Arabic literary lens.

Above that, dealing with gender as a doing, as interpreted by Butler themselves, has not yet been studied in an Arabic novel hand in hand with homosexuality. Thus, the objective is to fill these voids, highlighting the sensitivity of such taboo matters in the Arabic novel. Ultimately, this research will contribute to a comprehensive examination of these representations. It will unveil the role played by the Arabic novel and its authors in broaching these corners, despite their controversy in the Arab world and its socio-political milieus, as portrayed throughout the chosen narratives.