How is Propp's structural analysis relevant to Haroun and the Sea of Stories?
by Myfanwy Elizabeth Kinder
Vladimir Propp was a influential Russian literary critic who began his work using syntagmatic methods to analyse folk tales in the 1920s. During the 1920's Propp developed a theory identifying that all folk stories share similarities within the narrative and these could be easily identified when you approach a text from a structuralist perspective. Propp published his influential book 'Morphology of the Folk Tale' in 1928 which received critical acclaim and influenced many other literary theorists and practitioners. In 'Morphology of a Folk Tale' Propp states, "Both constants and variables are present in the preceding instances. The names of the dramatis personae change (as well as the attributes of each), but neither their actions nor functions change." This suggests that when we disconnect any characteristics from the tale, we are able to see the tale for its sole purpose and structure, enabling us to easily distinguish the key themes and events within the tale and to properly analyse the role of a character. In 'Morphology of a Folk Tale' Propp breaks down the tales into single events that direct the narrative. Propp called these events 'narratemes' and proposed a list containing 31 narratemes in an order of occurrence. Whilst Propp states that narratemes are essential for narrative to exist, he also states that they must occur in order however not every tale will include all 31 narratemes.
To properly understand Propp's 31 narratemes, it is important to acknowledge the list of character roles which he identifies, and recognizes as 'spheres of action' which include the villain, the donor, the helper, the princess, the hero, the dispatcher and the false hero. Propp states "...it is possible to establish that characters of a tale, however varied they may be, often perform the same actions." which further solidifies his belief that it is what the dramatis personae do as opposed to who they are that matters most when considering the narrative structure of a tale.
In Haroun and the Sea of Stories we can use Propp's structural analysis to identify the roles that characters within the narrative play and additionally how the 31 narratemes are incorporated within the story. The first example of how the narrative of Haroun and the Sea of Stories fits into Propp's structural analysis is at the very beginning of the story the main event is when Haroun's mother leaves the family home. Coincidently, or perhaps not, the very first narrateme in Propp's list is 'a member of the family leaves home'. When we consider the most obvious cases of 'spheres of action' however we can identify that the main protagonist of the story and the 'hero' is young Haroun himself with his many associates including Butt the Hoopoe, Iff the Water Genie and Mali the floating gardener all acting as 'helpers.' You may consider Iff the Water Genie to poses a secondary role which is the 'donor' as at multiple points within the story he aids Haroun by giving him magical items. Kattam Shud acts as the main antagonist within the story and would most definitely be considered the 'villain'.
Contrary to the support and celebration Propp's theories have earned, society has developed massively since the 1920s when he first established his theories and they have since received criticism and considered wildly outdated. Literary critics have since published more developed and detailed theories tailored to the ever expanding and increasingly complex narratives that society has to offer today superseding the conventions of traditional folk tales. In more sophisticated narratives is it considered acceptable to substitute a male hero for a female hero? Do all tales have to be good against evil and follow a linear narrative? Is it time to expand beyond the traditional concepts of narrative and evolve into something more complex where protagonists and antagonists aren't as easily definable?
In Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Salman Rushdie challenges the traditional concept of good overcoming evil by portraying that every character has both good and evil inside them and that it is due to events that lead to positive or negative character traits as outcomes. In conclusion, although Propp's structural analysis is easily applied to Haroun and the Sea of Stories, it is important to consider that over simplifying a narrative may be ignorant as many evolved narratives today have much more complexity to offer which may be overlooked.
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