Narrative as a Testimony: Second-Person Narrative Technique of Atiq Rahimi in Relentless Odyssey of Resilience and Retribution of Dastaguir

Abstract

This paper examines the second-person narrative technique employed by Atiq Rahimi in Earth and Ashes, focusing on its transformative role in conveying themes of resilience and retribution. By situating the reader within Dastaguir’s perspective, Rahimi creates an immersive experience that heightens emotional engagement and fosters empathy. The narrative is compelling enough as a reiteration of the trauma and shared suffering of Afghanistan's turbulent past, and Dastaguir symbolizes the strength of those minds that violence and sorrow have touched. It softens the line between the reader and the protagonist to challenge the readers to respond to the moral realities of Dastaguir's plight. This analysis shows the importance Rahimi places on the use of a narrative technique in working out the themes of memory, guilt, and the attempt to pursue revenge, which subtly enhance the understanding of effects of psychological warfare found within war literature. The results will show potential routes for further research on the topic of using second-person narratives in various pieces of war literature, indicating a broader potential applicability of the method for narrating trauma and survival.