Statement of the Problem and Objective: Among the diverse approaches to literary criticism, the sociology of literature occupies a distinctive position. This approach, relying on social criteria, investigates the content of literary works to uncover and explain the complex relationships between a literary text and the social contexts that shape it. George Lukács (1885–1971), a prominent modern critic and theorist, profoundly transformed the sociological approach to literary criticism through his innovative ideas. In his theory of the novel, he emphasized key concepts such as realism, the typical character, causal relationships, and social content as the fundamental pillars of literary analysis. From Lukács’ perspective, pure realism should present a coherent and harmonious image of humanity and society, striving to portray the unity and interdependence of these two essential dimensions. Lukács’ realism is characterized by three principal features: critical awareness, fidelity to reality, and popular orientation. He argues that realist writers must adopt a critical view of society and portray inequalities, injustices, and other social ailments with honesty. They must also depict reality objectively—even when it contradicts their personal convictions—and address the fundamental issues of society by delving deeply into human pain, emotion, and behavior. The Lebanese novelist Hoda Barakat’s Barīd al-Layl (The Night Mail), winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (Arabic Booker), exemplifies these principles. Through a critical and realist approach, Barakat offers readers a stark and unsettling portrayal of the chaos and disorder of contemporary society. The main objective of this study is to analyze the novel through the lens of Lukácsian realism and to highlight literature’s vital role in understanding, analyzing, and potentially remedying social deficiencies and disarray.
Methodology: As an interdisciplinary approach, the sociology of literature forges a deep connection between society and literary production. By carefully examining the reciprocal influence between the social structure and the writer’s artistic consciousness, this method seeks to reveal how social and economic dislocations are reflected in creative expression. This research adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology, grounded in the theoretical framework of George Lukács, to examine Hoda Barakat’s Barīd al-Layl. The central research question investigates how structural disorders within society are reproduced and mirrored in the narrative fabric of the novel through artistic techniques and narrative representation.
Discussion and Analysis: As a realist work, Barīd al-Layl deeply probes social dilemmas and purposefully exposes the harsh and bitter realities of contemporary life. One of Barakat’s most notable stylistic features is her critical orientation, expressed through a penetrating critique of the adverse conditions prevailing in both Arab societies and the Western world. Her narrative addresses a wide range of issues, including poverty, economic inequality, child labor, early and forced marriages, and other social afflictions. Barakat presents these problems with remarkable frankness, identifying illiteracy as both a product of poverty and a root cause of other social pathologies. Beyond this, she confronts phenomena such as sexual exploitation and prostitution, and candidly depicts the oppression of women, including violence, corporal punishment, and sexual abuse—forms of injustice that remain deeply entrenched. The devastating consequences of war, such as arbitrary arrests, the wretched conditions of prisons, and acts of torture and rape, are also recounted with emotional intensity. In alignment with Lukács’ conception of grand realism—which must engage with society’s most pressing problems—Barakat turns her attention to the plight of migrants and refugees, illuminating their suffering and alienation. An examination of Barīd al-Layl within Lukács’ sociological framework reveals abundant evidence of critical realism, commitment to truth, and popular engagement, the three foundational principles of his theory.
Findings: The findings of this study demonstrate that the spirit of Lukácsian realism is vividly embodied in Barīd al-Layl. Barakat constructs a narrative world pulsating with the rhythm of social realities, offering an unflinching reflection of the human condition. Her portrayal of poverty, class disparity, war, and widespread illiteracy exposes the destructive forces leading society toward decline. These structural afflictions manifest in numerous phenomena—child labor, child abuse, early marriage, unemployment, addiction, and sexual deviation—which the author portrays with both artistic sensitivity and sociological insight. In doing so, Barakat’s novel exemplifies the capacity of realist literature to reveal and critique the underlying social contradictions of modern life.