Dialogic Structure and Polyphony in the Novel Ziyarat Saja by Omaima Al-Khamis

Abstract

This study examines the dialogic structure and polyphonic dimensions of the novel Ziyarat Saja ‘Saja’s Visit’ by Omaima Al-Khamis, situating it within the Bakhtinian framework of polyphony. Moving beyond traditional monologic narrative forms, the novel is analyzed as a text characterized by multiple voices, divergent perspectives, and competing ideological positions. Employing a thematic critical approach, the research investigates the structural components of polyphonic narration, including plurality of voices and viewpoints, diversity of consciousness patterns, variation in linguistic and stylistic registers, and multiplicity of narrative perspectives. Particular emphasis is placed on the dynamic interplay among characters and the dialogic relationships that shape the narrative structure. The study demonstrates that the novel embodies Bakhtin’s concept of dialogism not merely through the presence of diverse characters, but through the interaction of social, intellectual, and ideological discourses. By deploying multiple narrators, languages, and modes of awareness, the text constructs an open dialogic system that challenges narrative centralization. The findings highlight the ability of the contemporary Saudi novel to transcend narrative monologism and to innovate dialogic structures that deepen the aesthetic and intellectual richness of the narrative experience.