Analysis of the Sensory and Perceptual Aspects of Space in José Saramago’s Novel Blindness

Abstract

The concept of space is not only related to the discipline of architecture but also to other disciplines because it involves human relationships. Literary works analyze space through the discipline of architecture. In novels, perceptual space is created through the character's multi-sensory perception, where senses become perceptions and perceptions become behaviors. The sense of sight dominates the perception of space, but other senses such as smell, hearing, touch, and taste also play a significant role in how space is perceived and given meaning. José Saramago's dystopian novel Blindness, which deals with the experiences of a group of individuals who lose their sight due to an epidemic, provides a unique opportunity to explore the production of perceptual space through the changing dynamics of space. As such, the novel is an ideal case study within the scope of this qualitative research project, which aims to examine the reflections of visually impaired individuals on space and analyze the perceptual and sensory aspects of space in the novel. Data were collected through purposive sampling and analyzed thematically, resulting in the formation of 10 themes expressed through 49 codes. The themes were transformed into visual expressions with form language. While Blindness has been the subject of numerous studies, this research project explores the novel from an architectural perspective, an angle that has not been previously explored.