Date of Graduation

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

English

Advisor/Mentor

Geoffrey A. Brock

Committee Member

Rebecca G. Howell

Second Committee Member

Paula M. Haydar

Keywords

Creative Writing;Drama;Literary Translation

Abstract

This thesis presents a literary translation of Egyptian playwright Fathia al-Assal’s seminal work, Sijn al-Nisāʾ (سجن النسا) - Women’s Prison, a compelling two-act play published in 1993. The text serves as a prism reflecting the societal, political, and personal intricacies of 1970s Cairo. Al-Assal’s narrative, meticulously woven with both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and colloquial Egyptian Arabic, reveals the dichotomies and struggles faced by its characters, particularly Salwa Azmi and Layla Mukhtar, who find themselves incarcerated in the women’s prison. The translation delves into the nuanced interchange between the formal standard Arabic, reflective of societal structures, and the informal colloquial Egyptian Arabic, embodying the pulse of everyday life. Through this linguistic interplay, the thesis aims to evoke the authenticity and cultural nuances of the original text while making it accessible to the broader Anglophone audience. The play is structured into two acts: Act One unfolds across five scenes, setting the stage for the societal tumult in Cairo, while Act Two comprises four scenes, delving deeper into the lives and intertwined stories of the incarcerated women, particularly centered around protagonists Salwa and Layla. This thesis offers not merely a literary translation but a lens into the silenced narratives of Egyptian women, encapsulating their struggle, resilience, and unwavering spirit in the face of societal and political adversities.

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