The Dialectics of Time in the Novel The Price of Sacrifice

Abstract

This study investigates the dialectics of time in the novel The Price of Sacrifice, focusing on the narrative functions of temporal structures and their role in shaping meaning. Adopting a structural approach, the research analyzes the use of multiple temporal modes and their effect on plot development, narrative tension, and thematic depth. The study is organized into a preface that discusses temporal fragmentation and types of time in the novel, followed by two main sections examining objective and psychological time and the disruption of temporal linearity. The findings reveal that time is presented through fragmentation and overlap rather than linear progression, mirroring human experience as it oscillates between memory and the present moment. Flashback emerges as a dominant narrative technique, enabling deeper exploration of characters’ inner worlds and providing justification for their actions, while anticipation is employed to suggest destiny and foreshadowing, thereby intensifying narrative suspense. The study further demonstrates that time serves as a vehicle for addressing existential questions of choice, responsibility, and sacrifice, as well as for portraying the psychological and social transformations of the characters. Overall, the analysis highlights the novel’s successful integration of modern temporal narrative techniques with profound human concerns, offering insight into contemporary Arabic narrative practices and the central role of time in meaning construction.