The Use of Experimental Devices in The Daydreaming Boy to Create an Atmosphere of Estrangement and Also to Establish a Connection with the Historical Events of the Genocide
1. Introduction
The novel ‘The Day Dreaming Boy’ by Micheline Aharonian Marcom is a fictional short novel in which the author introduces a character Vahe who is a boy living in Beirut, Lebanon.
Vahe’s father was killed during the American genocide whereas his mother was taken to a place unknown to him.
The boy’s story introduces us to various moments and recollections from life in Beirut of the 60s by mesmerizing Vahe’s daydreams.
Throughout the novel, it is also possible to pursue the moments of his slowly frustrating marriage to Juliana and inexorable memories of his severe injuries during the civil war.
2. Devices in the novel
There are many experimental devices used in the novel that unveil the historical events of the genocide.
Some of these devices are:
– The use of colors
– The use of sounds
– The use of smells
– The use of textures
– The use of tastes
all these elements are key in order to create a feeling of estrangement for the reader and also, to establish an atmosphere of dreamlike reality. "The Daydreaming Boy" is not only about Vahe’s past but also about Lebanon’s recent history, through which we can learn about the political situation, as well as, about the culture and traditions of the country. It should be noted that all these elements are incorporated into the narrative through flashback scenes that are usually triggered by some sort of stimuli like colors, sounds or smells. In this way, the author makes us feel as if we were present in those moments and also because flashbacks are often mixed with dreams, it makes us question what is reality and what is fiction. "The Daydreaming Boy" is not only a story but also an attempt to make us think about our own human condition and how we react when faced with violence and death.
3. The role of devices in the novel
As we have seen, there are many experimental devices used in "The Daydreaming Boy" that help to create an atmosphere of estrangement and also to establish a connection with the historical events of the genocide. However, we cannot forget that these devices also have a very important role in the plot itself.
For example, the use of colors is key to understanding Vahe’s state of mind in certain scenes. For instance, when he sees the color red he remembers his mother’s bloodstained dress and this makes him feel very sad and frustrated. On the other hand, when he sees the color white he feels calm and at peace because it reminds him of his mother’s purity and innocence. Similarly, smells also play an important role in triggering memories for Vahe. For example, when he smells rose water he remembers his mother and how she used to put it on her skin before going to bed. This particular smell makes him feel happy and nostalgic because it reminds him of better times. In contrast, when he smells oranges he feels angry and frustrated because they remind him of how his father was killed while trying to buy some oranges from a street vendor. Consequently, we can see how colors and smells are key elements that help to shape Vahe’s memories and also to understand his state of mind in certain situations.
4. The use of devices in the novel
The use of experimental devices in "The Daydreaming Boy" is very important in order to create an atmosphere of estrangement and also to establish a connection with the historical events of the genocide. However, we cannot forget that these devices also have a very important role in the plot itself.
For example, the use of colors is key to understanding Vahe’s state of mind in certain scenes. For instance, when he sees the color red he remembers his mother’s bloodstained dress and this makes him feel very sad and frustrated. On the other hand, when he sees the color white he feels calm and at peace because it reminds him of his mother’s purity and innocence. Similarly, smells also play an important role in triggering memories for Vahe. For example, when he smells rose water he remembers his mother and how she used to put it on her skin before going to bed. This particular smell makes him feel happy and nostalgic because it reminds him of better times. In contrast, when he smells oranges he feels angry and frustrated because they remind him of how his father was killed while trying to buy some oranges from a street vendor. Consequently, we can see how colors and smells are key elements that help to shape Vahe’s memories and also to understand his state of mind in certain situations.
5. Themes and messages in the novel
The novel ‘The Daydreaming Boy’ by Micheline Aharonian Marcom deals with many important themes such as violence, death, love, war, etc. However, one of the most important themes dealt with in the novel is memory. Memory is a very important theme because it is through Vahe’s memories that we learn about his past and also about the historical events of the genocide. Similarly, memory is also key to understanding Vahe’s state of mind in certain situations. For example, when Vahe smells oranges he becomes very angry because they remind him of how his father was killed while trying to buy some oranges from a street vendor. Consequently, we can see how memories can be positive or negative depending on the situation. In conclusion, ‘The Daydreaming Boy’ is a novel that deals with important themes such as violence, death, love, war, etc. However, one of the most important themes dealt with in the novel is memory.