The Jordanian novelist and poet Jalal Burges affirmed that the true role of literature lies in diving into the dark areas of the self and society, far from merely observing the surface, stressing that the novelist's task is to pose difficult questions and leave the answers to the reader.
This came during a panel discussion hosted by the Baghdad International Book Fair, which witnessed critical interventions and discussions addressing his narrative experience and his vision regarding societal issues and writing about women.
Burges stated, while discussing the novelist's relationship with humanitarian crises, that “when a writer addresses a crisis, he directs his compass towards the damp and dark areas that the sun has not yet reached,” clarifying that literature is not concerned with conveying the bright and rosy aspects as much as it seeks to dismantle deep issues, without claiming to provide ready-made solutions but rather placing the question before the audience.
Burges touched upon the concept of “masks” in contemporary human relationships, indicating that the current phase has increased the necessity for people to wear social masks that conceal their true feelings and thoughts. He believed that this does not necessarily classify as social hypocrisy but rather reflects the complexity of human nature and daily behavior.
Regarding writing about women, Burges explained that he does not call for separating men’s and women’s issues in literature, pointing to his experience in the novel “Ladies of the Five Senses,” in which he portrayed multiple female characters.
He noted that reaching the “deep internal core of a woman’s thoughts and feelings” required significant effort on his part, indicating that there are unique human experiences and feelings, like the pain of childbirth, that remain difficult for a male writer to fully comprehend, no matter how skilled he is at expression.
At the end of the session, Burges revealed his interest in cementing the concept of “the margin” through a future intellectual, cultural, and literary project, emphasizing that he is currently engaged in specialized reading and research to develop this idea and embody it in his upcoming works.
And the novelist's task is to pose difficult questions and leave the answers to the reader.