Some Aspects of the Arabic Female Bildungsroman in Iman Humaydan's novel "Wild Mulberries“

Abstract

The article examines the novel “Wild Mulberries” (2001) by the contemporary Lebanese writer Iman Humaydan. The aim of our rese­arch is to discuss this novel in the context of the Arabic female novel of development (Bildungsroman). In order to achieve this, we compare it with the plot and the themes presented in two Arabic novels. The following novels are: “The Birds of September” (1962) by Emily Nasr­allah and “The Leaves of Narcissus” (2001) by Sumayya Ramadan. Acc­ordingly, we conducted the research using comparative and cont­rastive methods.

Only a small part of Arabic female Bildungsromans has been stu­d­ied so far. The relevance of our research lies in showing, on the basis of research, by what parameters "Wild Mulberries" corresponds to the criteria of an Arabic novel of female development.