Gendering Relationships in the Play "Al-Ghazalat": A Reading of Cultural Patterns

Abstract

This study explores the play Al-Ghazalat as a rich example of Arab cultural productions that reframe East-West relations through symbolic representations, particularly gender dynamics. The playwright deviates from common patterns by setting the story in the southern desert rather than Western capitals and assigning the role of the narrator to the Western rival, reversing conventional narrative dominance. These stylistic choices reflect a sophisticated use of dramatic techniques and signal the potential of Libyan theatre, often marginalized, to engage in profound civilizational dialogues. The analysis avoids definitive psychological interpretations, positioning interpretive reading as an open-ended proposal to shape audience expectations. The play stands out for its high poetic prose, symbolic density, and deep emotional resonance, deriving its uniqueness from a personal yet collective experience. Its reexamination is not nostalgic but a call for cultural affirmation and serious engagement with contemporary challenges facing Arab-Islamic civilization.