알라 알아스와니의 소설『시카고』에서의 주제 연구

Abstract

This research aims to look into the subject of Shīkāgū (Chicago. 2007), anEgyptian novel written by ʿAlāʾ al-Aswānī. This study has been motivated bythe fact that the novel set in the United States includes various characters andunconnected incidents, which makes it difficult for readers to grasp the subject. Therefore, as a first step the sub-themes of the novel that are relativelytangible are chosen as the following. First, Chicago reflects the writer's strong hope for democratization of Egypt. By showing agony and actions of Egyptian elites with the social consciousness,the novel attempts to make the Egyptian citizens face the realities of life underthe dictatorship. Second, Chicago pays attention to why Egyptians immigrated to the UnitedStates and the stances toward their homeland, Egypt. Some of them immigratedto the United States dreaming for success; however, others left Egypt keepingresentment or hate toward Egypt. Nevertheless, all of them have not forgottentheir identity as Egyptians and realize that they are fated to be connected withtheir home. Third, the novel analyzes the United States as a supreme power and showsserious problems concerning the American society. Concretely, the novel showsimperialistic attributes of America, its internal social problems, its relationshipwith Egypt, and the tense atmosphere of American society since 9/11. Then, how can these three sub-themes be combined? The first and thesecond themes can be integrated to be the subject "the Egyptians' fate ofloving their motherland even under the dictatorship". This subject can becombined with the third sub-theme in that Americans also face imminent crisisdespite having democracy. In conclusion, the novel intended to look into the United States as anecessary evil by the Egyptians and observe phases of life managed byAmericans and Egyptians there. As a result, the writer makes sure they are allliving life of agony and feeling anxious under their individual or nationalcrises.