Journal of Arabic Language & Literature

Analysis of the Characters in Walidah Eto’s Short Story ‘Divorce Papers’ Based on Erving Goffman’s Stigma Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Javad Mohammadzadeh 1
Behrouz Ghorbanzadeh 2
Mohammad Kalashi 3

1 Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jall.2025.92971.1532
Abstract
A prominent trend in literary criticism involves the application of an integrated socio-psychological approach. This framework encompasses theories dedicated to the evaluation of fictional characters, their motivations, and their individual and social conduct. Erving Goffman’s stigma theory exemplifies such a theoretical lens, offering a valuable tool for analyzing the behavior and actions of individuals marked by stigma. Stigma is the act of attaching undesirable labels to an individual by others which leads to the individual’s isolation and rejection by society. One of the most stigmatizer events that can lead to social disgrace is divorce. Therefore, in this article, we selected a short story titled ‘Divorce Papers’, written by the Syrian writer Walidah Eto. This study employs a descriptive-analytical methodology, grounded in Erving Goffman’s stigma theory, to examine the ramifications of divorce-related stigma on the stigmatized character and to identify the contributing factors to its formation. The research holds significance by, firstly, introducing readers to the short fiction of a Syrian writer whose work prominently addresses the social and cultural issues confronting women. Secondly, it seeks to illuminate the social standing of divorced women and the psychological burdens stemming from the stigma of divorce within Syrian society, framed through the theoretical construct of Goffman's work. Through an examination of the characters within this narrative, it is determined that social isolation and diminished self-esteem represent salient manifestations of stigma in the protagonist. Maher’s mother, embodying the role of a stigmatizer, is depicted as a product of society's traditional perceptions of divorced women, ensnared within a rigid cultural paradigm. The assertion of ‘otherness’—the notion of ‘we are different from them’—functions as an additional stigmatizing mechanism employed by Maher's mother against the protagonist. In contrast, Maher assumes a supportive role, utilizing strategies such as ‘comparison’ and ‘cognitive-behavioral intervention’ to mitigate stigma and influence the stigmatizer’s perspective.
 
 

Keywords

Stigma
Social Isolation
Personality
Erving Goffman
Divorce Papers
Walidah Eto
Subjects

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