واکاوی رمان "الواجهة" اثر یوسف عزالدین عیسی با محوریت مکتب اگزیستانسیالیسم

Analysis of the Novel Al-Wajha by

Yusuf Al-Din Isa in the Context of Existentialism

Abstract

Objective and Introduction

In the 20th century, philosophical perspectives on life gained significant prominence in literature, and existentialism is a clear example of this trend. The central focus of existentialism, which emerged in Europe during the 20th century, is human existence, deemed by its proponents to be the most significant issue of being, with nothing preceding it. This school of thought speaks to the essence of human existence, emphasizing the primacy of being over essence, and asserts that humans construct their own essence through freedom, making choices among available options and defining their values by rejecting previous norms. However, this freedom also brings a sense of responsibility, causing anxiety and dread. Furthermore, thoughts on death often lead to a sense of existential void, yet this void differs from nihilistic emptiness. Existentialism gained prominence between the two World Wars and became a key tool for articulating human struggles during times of collective unease.It seems that the disturbances and troubles after the world wars played a significant role in the expansion of the principles of this school, and existentialism was a reaction to all those disturbances and disturbances.

Existentialists are divided into two categories: Christian (God) and non-religious (Atheist). The only thing these two groups have in common is that they all believe that existence precedes essence, or in other words, philosophy should start from introspection. Existentialism has a special view of man and his situation in the world, and it is also evident that he avoids abstract matters and tries to make philosophy objective and thus tries to bring about changes in human life style.

Having transitioned from philosophy to literature, existentialism influenced Arabic literature in the 1950s and 1960s, with several Arab writers embracing its ideas, one of whom is the well-known Egyptian author Yusuf Al-Din Isa. This study examines the main existential themes reflected in Al-Din Isa’s novel Al-Wajha.

Methodology

This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, based on text analysis and library research, to explore the novel Al-Wajha by Yusuf Al-Din Isa through the lens of existentialism. The aim is to demonstrate how key existential concepts such as loneliness, death, freedom, and responsibility are vividly portrayed in the narrative.

Findings

Al-Wajha is a quintessential existential novel, manifesting almost all key existentialist elements. In the narrative, the city symbolizes the world, and the protagonist represents the contemporary human being. Just as everyone in this world is ultimately confronted with death, the citizens of this city are all condemned to execution. Much like humans in the real world, who do not know their origin or where they were before birth, the inhabitants of this city are unaware of how they arrived or what existed before their entry. Loneliness in this city is as agonizing as it is in the real world. Themes of death and freedom are deeply contentious both in this city and the world. Just as leaving the world is only possible through death, escaping the city is only achievable through execution. The protagonist carries a significant responsibility, both for themselves and for others, reflecting the existential view that every individual is responsible for their existence and actions.Therefore, a person is responsible for his actions, but this responsibility does not mean that a person is responsible of his own individuality, but each person is responsible for all human beings, therefore existentialism literature is called targeted literature that Jean-Paul Sartre is one of the most important leaders. he emphasizes this important point.

Discussion and Results

The protagonist, representing the modern human, is abandoned in this city, a symbol of the world, and despite being surrounded by others, including their own family, they feel a profound sense of loneliness. This isolation leads to fear and anxiety. The protagonist mirrors the contemporary human being, overwhelmed by their own solitude, and unable to escape it. Additionally, existentialism regards death as inevitable but rejects surrendering to the anxiety and nihilistic despair it may bring. Existentialism encourages humans to continue living and striving, contrasting with nihilism, which views emptiness as the starting and ending point. Existentialist emptiness differs from nihilistic void, as existentialists, unlike nihilists, seek to overcome this emptiness and realize their authentic self. Another key finding of this study is the intrinsic relationship between freedom and responsibility in existential thought. In this framework, freedom entails both individual and social responsibility. As seen in the novel, the protagonist, recognizing human freedom, remains committed to their responsibilities, holding themselves accountable until the final moments of their existence.

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This translation retains the academic tone and formal structure of the original abstract, adhering closely to the philosophical themes and analysis of the novel Al-Wajha in relation to existentialism.