A Deconstructive Study of the Implicit Meaning in Models from Ghassan Kanafani's "A World Not Ours"

Abstract

The collection "A World Not Ours" comprises a number of social stories by the Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani. These stories are based on several differences that allow for the existence of both an explicit and an implicit meaning. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, drawing on deconstructionist principles, our study worked on dismantle the stories from within and uncover the implicit meaning within the collection. Among the most significant findings is that deconstructing the narrative structure based on its apparent differences plays a prominent role in reconstructing the meaning of the stories and revealing hidden narratives that reflect a social reality absent from the narrative. Furthermore, this deconstruction contributes to the psychological development of the main characters. The research also found that many of the contrasts in the stories are based on specific symbols, with animals occupying a considerable space within these symbols. Other findings will be explored later.