The Popular Heritage in the Plays of Muhammad Al-Othaim

Abstract

This research aims to reveal the forms of employing folklore in Al-Othaim plays, and the approach of artistic and thematic addition in employing heritage for the characters and events of his plays. It also aims to track the impact of changing contexts on the human connection with the folklore in them. The research plan relied on the semiotic approach in analyzing texts, and it came in an introduction, a preface, four sections and a conclusion. The research concluded that the employment of folklore is a phenomenon in Muhammad Al-Othaim ‘s plays, which reveals a connection to the local environment spirit , despite the contemporaneity of many changing contexts at the political, social and economic level. Besides, it showed the contribution of the local environment to supplementing the spatial spaces in Al-Othaim's plays with many details on multiple levels between sensory presence and the human dimension. It also gave the scenery the characteristic of originality , and created a parallel reality that embodies the modern tale in an ancient setting. In addition , his theatrical texts evoked the spirit of the expatriate ancient human in the nature of civil life, and revealed many conflicts, most of which are about the inherited and the new. It revealed many connotations that enriched the plays artistically and visionary as well . The emergence of the spoken dialect in the texts added a lot of realism to the characters and their dialogues. Moreover, the inspiration of popular fantasy in his plays appeared by artistic employing according to modern technologies, so that the writer took its origins from its resources, and then worked on composing it according to the modernity of his time in thought and aesthetics.