GEMA Online Journal™ Journal of Language Studies 53 Volume 10(3)2010 ISSN: 1675-8021 Satire In Sonallah Ibrahim’s The Committee: An Allegory To Ridicule Capitalism Khaled A. Alkodimi Kaq2002@yahoo.com Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication Universiti Putra Malaysia Noritah Omar nomar@fbmk.upm.edu.my Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication Universiti Putra Malaysia Abstract Despite the voluminous amount of research on the genre of satire, little is known about Arabic satirical texts. This paper explores the satirical devices employed in Sonallah Ibrahim’s novel, The Committee (2001). Through the means of satire, Ibrahim skilfully explores the devastating effects of global capitalism on third world nations, by unravelling the mask that shields the domination and exploitation of Egypt. The discussion seeks to identify the hegemonic and the exploitative nature of the capitalist system on third world countries, specifically the creation of a web of conspiracy that controls the economic and governmental policies of Egypt through multi-national corporations as seen in The Committee. The discussion will show that said corporations ultimately transformed Egypt into a mere consumer market. The discussion concludes with the significance of satire as a mode of expression that is employed to bring about awareness among the public of the destructive consequences of capitalism on Arabic society. Keywords: satire, capitalism, multinational corporations, exploitation, consumerism. Introduction Sonallah Ibrahim is considered by many critics as a leading figure in what Paul Starkey (2006b) refers to as the ‘Generation of the Sixties’ in modern Arabic literature, who abandoned the “mimetic approach of modern social realism [in favour of] an ironical metafictional approach in the writing of narrative” (Draz, 1981, p.137). We would argue that Ibrahim uses humour as a means to create awareness, as admitted by the author himself: “Black humour arises from extending your desire to make fun to a degree where you express a vision of reality you want to change”. This paper analyses Ibrahim’s construction of satire on capitalism in his novel The Committee (2001). In The Committee Ibrahim utilises satire to ridicule the multinational corporations and hidden authorities that have very much influenced Egypt, the country in which the novel is set, in particular its political and economic systems. It should be noted, however, that our analysis is based on our reading of Mary St. Germain and Charlene Constable’s translation of the novel.