The Confession of the Lady of the Almond Tree: A Reading of the Turmoil of the Self and the Dynamics Beyond the Narrative

Abstract

This study aims to trace the movement of the narrating self in the novel *Under the Tent of Ash*¹ and seeks to capture its images, transformations and the echoes of its inner voice; for the self forms the centre of this literary work and its fulcrum, just as it does in any other literary work. For the self is the sole abode in which writing can dwell, from which it sets out and to which it returns, whilst practising the chameleon-like act of appearing and disappearing. In doing so, it strives to engage in a multi-faceted endeavour, including the expression of ideas, the venting of the soul, the winning over of the reader, and the exploration of worlds in which the self finds for itself paths to liberation and escape from painful reality, in pursuit of a sense of existence. The self in the novel is a spectre whose features are difficult to grasp on first reading; therefore, this study sets out to elucidate the characteristics of the self and track its movements across three axes: First: parallel discourse, including the title, dedication, cover, publisher’s name and other such elements. Second: the self’s movement inwards: through its interaction with symbols and the language of narration. Third: the self’s movement outwards: through the reflection of its interaction with the environment, whether that environment consists of people, objects or texts. The study aims to examine narrative techniques and analyse the dimensions of depiction and forms of artistic expression from the perspective of the self; this is achieved by adopting a textual approach that focuses on the dominant themes in the text and is open to both subjective and objective elements, based on the premise that the self invokes the subject. It incorporates psychological and sociological analytical methods, and examines both the text and its context.