Thesis (M.A.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Arts - Department of English

This research explores how the concept of prophecy is employed in Al-Hussein Revolutionary and Martyr (Al-Hussein Tha{u2019}eran wa Shaheedan) (1969), Prophecy (2008) and, Pillars of the Earth (2010) to convey certain political messages. Key concepts in the theories of Sociologist Robert Merton{u2019}s Self-Fulfilling prophecy, social psychologist Leon Festinger{u2019}s cognitive dissonance, and Observer{u2019}s expectancy effect provide the backdrop against which in-depth analysis of these texts, which provides a deeper understanding of the cultural contexts of the texts. The analysis also helps to present an alternative image of the dominant political ideologies depicted and exposing the general public{u2019}s ignorance of the game of power and politics of which they inevitably become victims.The study will explore the effect of prophecy as a Dramatic tool in the three works to highlight the political control in Al-Hussein Revolutionary and Martyr and The Pillars of The Earth, and to criticize wars and American imperialism in Prophecy. The present research seeks to present a different vision of prophecy in these works as a dramatic tool that reveals political control and the resulting opposition

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