In the novel The Stone of Laughter, the point where the identity of the author as a woman is represented is captured in the first person narrations about the character of women. In these instances, the author uses the first person plural point of view to include herself with the women folk. At this point the author draws a line between the essential differences between men and the women in the fictional society. Men are revealed as naturally given to struggle and conflict because they are compelled by circumstances to take sides in the events of conflicts (Barakat 45). The question of gender is linked to physical looks and character. For instance Khalil’s aversion to war is used to bring him out as a coward in both body and soul, “Khalil’s legs were not long enough,” (Barakat 3). When circumstances harden him later he is described as “Khalil is gone he has become a man who laughs,” (Barakat 209). On the other hand, women are represented as casual observers of events who adopt a complex assessment of reality. The illustration of these elements of gender can be analyzed in a manner that would reveal the identity of the author or narrator as a woman. The narrator plays the role of the impartial judge of the circumstances that surround the complex life of the protagonist.
The life of Khalil is explored within the restrictive social order of the Lebanese society in a manner that attempts to reveal the struggle of identity. By exploring the homosexual identity of Khalil, the author develops the position that the stringent religious and social order of the society does not have the capacity to prevent to prevent the flourishing of alternative forms of reality (Barakat 38). Further, the narrator helps the development of the plot by explaining certain aspects that would have required the intervention of a character. In essence, the narrator reduces the burden of the story by condensing the various actions, and developments of the story within a singular voice. This helps to bring out the ease of comprehension and uniformity of the story.
Through the voice of the narrator, the hidden thoughts of the main characters like Khalil and other peripheral characters are developed on the same plane of comprehension so that the reader buys into the story from an objective point of view. It has been suggested that the narrator in a story should develop and guide the thematic course of the narrative. In this regard, it might be argued that one of the fundamental roles of the narrator is the condensing the themes of conflict and identity into the body of the story. Conflict in this story has been represented in two broad ways. The first level of conflict represents the problematic matter of Khalid’s sexuality.
Although he is male, Khalil’s orientation is essentially feminine. He finds himself at odds with the people close to him and lives through a life of internal torment as he tries to curve out an ideal personality for himself. The private interests are brought into competition with the societal expectation. The course of this struggle of personality is replete with tragedy, which the author seems to have designed as the consequences of the tense struggle. In the very end, it is never quite clear which side of the competing forces triumphs over the other.
One of the obvious beauties of this novel lie in its capacity to transcend the established traditions of Arabic narrative to offer expressions to the sensitive elements of dual sexuality and the challenges of religious order. The book explores the heavy subjects of war and suffering with elements of humor which makes it aesthetically positive. The book concludes at a moment of awakening when Khalil says that “all these years that are called life are nothing but nonsense, a folly, because they lack your dying for you to know,” (Barakat 168). The story successfully establishes a new center of interpreting Arabian socio-cultural struggles as reflected within the restrictive and suppressive structures.
Work Cited
Barakat, Huda. The stone of laughter: a novel. New York: Interlink Books, 1995
