Minor Voices in Salim Barakat’s “The Captives of Sinjar”: Deleuzian Perspective

Abstract

Salim Barakat's The Captives of Sinjar (2016), has been read as historical accounts of the actual events that happened in Sinjar back in 2014. It appears to depict the accounts of Yazidi women who endured victimization at the hands of a collective of male perpetrators – ISIS – the Islamic State in Iraq and Sham fighters. However, in this paper, we unravel the signs and symbols of the text to show the invisible aspects of the incidents which are mediated through the perspective of the male narrator, Sarat. The narrative language employed within the text serves to engage readers at a cognitive level that encourages contemplation and fosters a heightened mental engagement. With the blend of magic reality mode and surrealist scenes, the linguistic approach facilitates the construction of vivid imageries, particularly concerning the portrayal of the mass execution of captives, as portrayed through meticulously selected artistic representations embedded within the novel’s fabric. This study aims to explore alternative dimensions of the novel. Through a close reading, we seek to establish links between the analysis and the theoretical framework of minor literature as examined by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari. Central to our findings is the discernment of an enduring and dynamic struggle between marginalized and oppressed factions, juxtaposed against those in positions of dominance. Moreover, the study examines the intricate interplay between constructed notions of identity and the subjective realities of the characters.