A master’s thesis entitled “Satire in the Short Stories of Abdulaziz Al-Farsi: An Argumentative Approach” was recently defended by short story writer Hamood bin Saud Al-Rashdi from the Department of Arabic Language and Literature, College of Arts and Social Sciences.
The study set out to explore how satire is employed as a persuasive tool in the fictional works of the late Omani author Abdulaziz Al-Farsi. It examined the argumentative techniques used in his satirical narratives across his story collections, analysing their role in persuasion and influencing readers, the contribution of characters in activating argumentative strategies, and the function of satire in addressing political, social, and religious discourses. The research also sought to answer key questions, including: What role does satire play in shaping persuasive strategies within the texts? How do quasi-logical arguments reveal the satirical discourse in the narrative? And how do argumentative links contribute to clarifying the structure of satire in Al-Farsi’s short stories?
Al-Rashdi noted that Al-Farsi drew inspiration from society, with his characters interacting with their social surroundings, reflecting its contradictions, diversity, and disparities. This aligns with the foundations of the argumentative approach, which relies on mathematical and logical techniques. The study focused on four of Al-Farsi’s short story collections, where satire is particularly prominent: Masameer (Arab Diffusion Foundation, Beirut, 2006), Al-Aabirun Fawq Shadhayahum (Those Who Pass Over Their Fragments, Arab Diffusion Foundation, Beirut, 2005), The Bear Woke Up (Arab Diffusion Foundation, Beirut, 2009), and The Grey Box (Arab Diffusion Foundation, Beirut, 2012).
The thesis concluded that Abdulaziz Al-Farsi’s works demonstrate profound awareness of his society’s issues. Through satire, he presented questions and concerns about societal realities in an artistically coherent manner, probing transformations, dissecting phenomena, and confronting unspoken or concealed matters within social, political, and religious contexts. The study further found that satire in Al-Farsi’s works is tightly constructed, rooted in narrative scenes and textual space, and often signalled by story titles, which themselves embody paradoxes within the narrative framework. Moreover, latent satire emerges from the tension between individual aspirations and the collective aims of society. The study was organised into a theoretical introduction, two chapters, and a conclusion.
The examining committee consisted of Dr. Badr Al-Alawi (Chair), Dr. Mahrous Al-Qalli (Member and Supervisor), Dr. Abdulghani Bara (Member and Internal Examiner), and Dr. Maryam Al-Badi (Member and External Examiner). At the conclusion of the defence, the committee approved the thesis and awarded Hamood bin Saud Al-Rashdi the degree of Master of Arts in Arabic Language and Literature.