EXPLORING AMBIGUITY IN TAUFIQ RAFAT’S "WEDDING IN THE FLOOD": A NEW CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This study employs New Criticism to analyze Taufiq Rafat’s Wedding in the Flood, focusing on ambiguity as a key literary device that enhances the poem’s interpretive depth. New Criticism centers on close reading, isolating the text from external contexts such as the author’s intent or historical background. In Wedding in the Flood, ambiguity is woven into the symbolic dimensions of the poem, particularly through the contrasting imagery of the flood and the wedding. While the flood symbolizes destruction and unpredictability, the wedding traditionally represents hope and new beginnings. This duality creates layers of meaning that reflect human anxieties, societal expectations, and the fragility of personal choice. The study explores how Rafat’s use of language intensifies these themes, highlighting the tension between tradition, superstition, and individual agency. Ambiguity enriches the poem’s emotional and thematic complexity, inviting readers to question the stability of relationships amidst societal obligations and life’s uncertainties. By presenting Wedding in the Flood as an ideal subject for New Criticism, the research underscores the enduring relevance of Rafat’s poetic mastery.

Keywords: New Criticism, Ambiguity, Imagery, Tension, Juxtaposition, Material Possession, Exploration