Manifestations of Place in the Algerian Novel

Dr. Hafiza Makhlouf (pp. 32–39)

 University of Saida (Algeria)

Abstract

Among the names of the desert are Al-Badia, Al-Mafaza, and Al-Bayda. The word desert derives from the notion of openness and visibility, as it is a space clearly perceived by those who traverse it due to its level nature. What matters here is not the multiplicity of names, for, as the poet Nizar Qabbani stated, “the most ridiculous thing it bears is names,” but rather the qualities that characterize it. These qualities are vast in scope; they expand to embrace everyone and extend to fill the earth with joy and sorrow, harshness and softness, sadness and grief. Since ancient times, the desert has constituted a distinctive spatial framework for Arabs, captivating poets, inspiring prose writers, and evoking deep psychological, semantic, and cognitive imprints within literary texts. Place in these texts serves as evidence of the impact the desert left on the human psyche and the cultural awareness it awakened. The relationship between humans and their environment is complementary, as neither dominates the other, and this relationship is uniquely reflected in literary expression. Human beings, as productive and conscious agents, interact with nature through purposeful labor, creating culture and artistic expression. Through this interaction, the desert played a crucial role in shaping human consciousness, talents, and creative capacities, enabling writers to form a second nature derived from their engagement with the desert environment.

Keywords: Manifestations, Place, Novel, Algerian