Narratology’s theoretical framework is largely built upon the dualistic model of fabula and syuzhet, a dichotomy that has served as both the cornerstone of narratological theory and a central tenet of critical theory for much of the past century. Despite its importance, this binary framework has proven to be a vulnerable point, or even the Achilles’ heel, in the study of narrative. Barbara Smith has notably targeted this vulnerability, arguing that the dualistic model “is precisely such a conception of discourse that dominates contemporary narrative theory, and it is the dualism at the heart of that model of language that provides the scaffolding for the two-leveled model of narrative”. If this foundational model is indeed as unstable as suggested, it raises the concern that the entire theoretical structure might be flawed. Thus, a re-examination of these terms is not only necessary but could potentially renew and strengthen the field. It is conceivable that while the foundation itself remains indispensable, our understanding of it has been incomplete, and revisiting it may yield important insights for both narratology and the broader domain of critical theory.