Seyyed Heydar Shirazi

The narrative mode of Passages, a novel by Fatin Al-Murr, employs the focalization to establish the point of view presented in the story. This technique focuses on who observes the story rather than who narrates it. Gérard Genette identifies three levels of focalization: zero, internal, and exterior. In Passages focalization is utilized to depict two seemingly contradictory identities through the perspectives of two narrators (Darine and Najwa). Each character embodies a unique identity shaped by the Israeli occupation, representing the Palestinian Christian and Muslim communities in Lebanon and the refugee camps, as well as the Palestinian Muslim population. This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on Gerard Genette's theory of focalization to examine the author's style in Passages and its portrayal of the reality of the Arab world during the Israeli occupation. This study identifies the presence of all three focalization patterns, with the perspectives of Darine and Najwa serving as primary vehicles for storytelling. The introspective narrative within the novel is predominantly channeled through Najwa's perspective, characterized by her profound understanding of the Palestinian conflict. Through a series of exchanged letters, Najwa endeavors to enlighten her Christian friend about the brutal massacres and injustices unfolding in Palestine.