واکاوی عوامل و مؤلّفه‌های روانی، رفتاری و بلاغی راوی اعتمادناپذیر در داستان ریگ‌جن رضا جولایی

The issue of the narrator's credibility as an intermediary between the author and the readers is a fundamental concern in the field of narratology. In this discussion, the concept of the unreliable narrator will be explored via highlighting the content and linguistic features of this type of narrator, supported by evidence from the story. Also explained, is how the author employs this technical capacity to create defamiliarization at the narrative level. In this story, the author not only incorporates intriguing historical content but also employs an unconventional structure by utilizing the narrator's unreliability. By presenting contradictory narratives and employing multiple narrators, the author creates an element of surprise that ultimately enhances the literary experience. The results indicate that in the realm of psychological and behavioral components, symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, superstition, projection of problems, pessimism, and distrust are prevalent. Additionally, issues such as emotional dysregulation, contradictions between thought and reality, erroneous judgments, and a lack of situational mastery are noted. In terms of linguistic features, symptoms include a high frequency of incomplete sentences, interrogative sentences, and phrases that convey doubt or a lack of knowledge. The use of short sentences and slanderous language further suggests the narrator's unreliability.
Introduction:
In the process of creating fictional works, authors utilize a variety of techniques and strategies within the narrative structure, the arrangement of which shapes the plot of the story. In other words, every story has a plot that dictates how and when information is revealed. To generate narrative tension while enhancing thematic appeal, most authors strive to employ creative plots and technical devices, such as "defamiliarization," to surprise audiences through the very structure of the narrative, independent of its content. One effective technical device is the use of an unreliable narrator, as exemplified in the novel “Rig-e Jen” (The Demon’s Sand). The unreliability of narrators is a significant topic in narratology. Narrative scholars, such as Shlomith Rimmon-Kenan, attribute the primary reasons for a narrator's unreliability to factors including limited knowledge, personal bias, and conflicting value systems while explaining the characteristics of omniscient narrators.
A noteworthy observation is that, despite the attention narrative scholars have given to the issue of narrator unreliability, scientific propositions in this field remain relatively underdeveloped. In other words, a reader interested in this topic, after reviewing existing resources, will find a lack of a clear framework and will be without a proper standard or measure for assessing the reliability or unreliability of narrators. Therefore, as more fictional works are analyzed through the lens of unreliable narration, the factors contributing to a narrator’s lack of credibility—along with the psychological, behavioral, and linguistic indicators associated with such narrators—become increasingly identifiable. Consequently, the criteria for detecting unreliable narrators become more clearly defined and articulated.
Furthermore, the narrator is a crucial component of a narrative, and it is inconceivable to imagine a narrative without one. Therefore, examining the technical aspects of this element helps the audience better understand and interpret the story.
 For this reason, this study aims to address the following questions by comparing different perspectives on narrator unreliability: What are the psychological, behavioral, and linguistic signs and characteristics of unreliable narrators? How do authors utilize these features to innovate within the narrative structure?
Methodology:
This study employs qualitative content analysis. By examining the concept of the unreliable narrator and identifying its thematic and linguistic features through evidence from the story, the article seeks to explain how the author uses this technical device to achieve defamiliarization at the narrative level.
Results and Discussion:
In Rig-e Jen, Jolaie (the author) employs multiple unreliable narrators to introduce unexpected twists in the plot—a technique that enhances both the narrative's intrigue and its enigmatic quality. The story adopts a documentary-like format, commencing with an editor's note that meticulously references dates, names, and locations.
The narrative features three narrators: the first, set in the present day, reconstructs the surviving notes of the other two. The plot is structured in such a way that each narrator seeks to undermine the credibility of the others while presenting their own account as the "truth." This dynamic consistently betrays the audience’s trust, especially at crucial moments, leaving readers astonished.
The two primary narrators, Engineer Mousavi and Dr. Motamedi, embark on an expedition into the enigmatic desert of Rig-e Jen in Esfand 1344 (February-March 1966). After encountering a series of mysterious events, they vanish without a trace. Their notes resurface in 1370 (1991-92) and are compiled by the first narrator, who also serves as the editor. Despite their education, the narrators’ mental landscapes—gradually unveiled through their writings—are fraught with personal biases, judgments, and superstitions. As they near the end of their lives, the superstitions prevalent among the local populace increasingly permeate their own viewpoints.
A key aspect of these narrators is their unreliability. From the outset, the first narrator dismisses the accounts of the others as mere products of delusion and fantasy. Meanwhile, Dr. Motamedi accuses Engineer Mousavi of being unreliable, citing his tendencies toward gossip, boastfulness, and negligence. In turn, Mousavi attributes Dr. Motamedi’s narrative to arrogance and pride.
Conclusion:
The structural analysis of "Rig-e Jen" not only highlights the author's innovative narrative design but also provides a practical framework for identifying narratorial unreliability through thematic and linguistic elements. Thematically, psychological instability—characterized by delusions, superstitions, projection of problems, paranoia, emotional volatility, contradictions between thought and reality, and the fabrication of facts—indicates unreliability. Behaviorally, flawed judgments, a lack of situational control, inconsistency, and contradictory actions further undermine credibility. Linguistically, markers include fragmented sentences, frequent interrogatives, expressions of doubt, hesitant phrasing, simplistic language, abrupt statements, and profanity. This study demonstrates how the author strategically employs these traits to subvert reader expectations and create a narrative that thrives on defamiliarization and surprise.