جريمة الشرف عند سحر خليفة" الميراث" وخديجة مستور" أنغان" دراسة مقارنة

Honor killing in Sahar Khalifa's "Inheritance" and Khadija Mastour's "Courtyard", a comparative study

Abstract

This paper delves into the representation of honor killings in literature,    specifically through Sahar Khalifa's "The Inheritance" (1997)and Khadija Mastour's "Angan"(1962). The focus is on how these works depict the male discourse of honor and its impact on female characters within the social customs of their respective cultures.It highlights the irony of honor as a gender-based mechanism that disproportionately values female morality while allowing for the violation of cultural morality by males. This is exemplified through characters like Zeinab, Nahla, Salma, Tahmina, and Kusem, who are subjected to the dictates of honor upheld by male relatives.Furthermore, this paper underline the moral and ethical irresponsibility of male characters such as Mazin, Said, and Salma's brothers, who neglect their familial duties while maintaining a sense of entitlement as guardians of honor. This underscores the patriarchal hypocrisy embedded within the discourse of honor.The empowerment of feminine voices in both novels is identified as a means to challenge and deconstruct patriarchal norms, advocating for gender equality where both men and women share ethical and social responsibilities. Khalifa's and Khadija's works thus serve as platforms to critique the cultural legitimization of honor crimes and advocate for social change.Moreover,  that honor crimes are not limited to a particular culture or region but are rather a broader societal issue rooted in cultural definitions rather than religious ones. The female characters in both novels navigate their cultural landscapes to challenge gender inequalities and strive for social parity.Overall, this analysis provides a nuanced exploration of the representation of honor killings in literature, highlighting the role of gender dynamics, cultural contexts, and the importance of challenging patriarchal structures in achieving social equality.