Character in Shahid Al-Halafi’s Novels

Abstract

The present study aims to identify the character as a literary component in the narrative system. This study explainy the character, after defining it, and its effective role in three novels of the Iraqi novelist (Shahid Al-Halafi), which are Kash Watan, Sariq Al-Eimama (The Turban Thief), and Naqis Khamsa (Minus Five). This study analyses the selected novels semiotically and highlights the most significant aspects of the personality in quantitative and qualitative standerd. It explains the aspects of the character on the quantitative scale and divides it into the oppressed character, who is stolen presence and rights, and the savior character, who tries to save her/his society from an unfortunate and crisis situation. The study treats two aspects of character: the first one is the social treatment that the novel offers, and the second one is the methods, that is followed by the novelist in presenting his characters, and this method of presentation is what is called the qualitative scale. It has been found that the novelist uses two methods in presenting his character, which are the informative method, in which the narrator informs about the character according to his point of view, and the expository method, in which the characters present themselves through their interaction with each other, as well as, his/ her dialogue in a way that reveals her/his secrets.