The Textual Space Najati Sidky’s Novel of "Shimon Bouzaglo" as a Model

Authors

Adwan AdwanFollow

Abstract

The study aims at highlighting the text’s public sphere of the shot story “Shimon Bouzaglou” by Najati Sidki, which depicts several artistic dimensions that include both the open sphere of the text and the place. It also shows how the text’s sphere converges with the political, psychological, economical and socio-cultural spheres. Although short, the story’s text comprises a fertile ground for several interpretations. It resembles a portrait that carries several questions related to Shimon the beggar and to the character of the Sephardic Jews. Also, it has to do with a proportion of people who go through a double personality ruptured between psychological greed and societal oppression.

The study begins by analyzing the title, which does not refer to an attribute or a name of a certain author. However, mentioning and reading texts with their titles represent a cultural status for listeners, and an important state of communication , especially if a considerable number of listeners come to an agreement in recognizing a certain title. Thus, the title "Shimon Buzaglo" provides the opportunity towards a multiple visions and interpretations vis-à-vis the Jewish situation and how it is viewed by Palestinians.

The study includes different approaches about the beginning of the text that is related to the place. It refers the reader to a destitute neighborhood known as the Tanak neighborhood whose houses are built of wood, old shingles, and interlocking houses to protect residents from rain and wind in winter, and to bring them shade and cold in summer. These of course are signs of misery and destitution. The beginning of the text plays a bridge to cross between the title “Shimon Buzaglo” and the bulk of the text in terms of both the layout and context.

The study also addresses other narrative elements of the novel in terms of time, place and characters, as well as their contextual, cultural and interpretive implications pertaining to history, thought and daily events.

Recommended Citation

Adwan, Adwan (2021) "The Textual Space Najati Sidky’s Novel of "Shimon Bouzaglo" as a Model," Jerash for Research and Studies Journal مجلة جرش للبحوث والدراسات: Vol. 22: Iss. 2, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.aaru.edu.jo/jpu/vol22/iss2/4