In Search of the Meaning of Life: A Psychoanalytical Analysis of the Protagonist in the Novel "Little Death" Based on Irvin Yalom's Existential Psychology Theory

The primary tenet of existentialism "revolves around the human individual as a conscious subject: the sense of meaninglessness and the absurdity of human existence, and the anxiety and dread that permeate the individual" . Existentialists believe that individuals are in a constant state of anxiety, which manifests as "fear of death, guilt, or fear of meaninglessness. They have always delved into the details of behavior and analyzed it" . Rooted in philosophies such as Heidegger's existentialism and the existential psychiatry of Binswanger and Boss, this approach seeks a deeper understanding of the existential nature of humans and their challenges.Irvin Yalom, an existential psychiatrist and philosopher, believes that finding meaning in life is the responsibility of each individual. According to him, in the face of feelings of emptiness and despair, humans must actively seek to create and discover meaning in their lives rather than waiting for meaning to be given to them. Yalom suggests that individuals can achieve a lasting meaning by immersing themselves in various activities, taking on more responsibilities, and creating structure and purpose in their lives. This process not only helps individuals escape feelings of emptiness but also gives them a sense of purpose and satisfaction in life. In other words, Yalom believes that meaning is not something given to us, but something we create ourselves.

Therefore, this research aims to achieve a comprehensive understanding of Ibn Arabi's existential nature and how his personality was formed based on existential principles and concepts by deeply examining his experiences, decisions, and inner conflicts. It also seeks to answer questions such as how Ibn Arabi's mystical experiences, particularly in the novel " Little Death," are related to fundamental concepts of existential psychology such as emptiness, existential anxiety, and the search for meaning. Considering the existential psychology approach, the research will explore what factors played a role in the formation of feelings of emptiness and the search for meaning in Ibn Arabi's character and how he confronted these challenges and what defense mechanisms he used to overcome them.

Methodology:This research employs a descriptive-analytical approach to investigate the existential crises and the quest for meaning in the character of the novel "Little Death" from an existential psychological perspective. To gather data, a library-based research method was utilized.The population of this study is contemporary Arabic literature, with the aforementioned novel serving as the case study

Results and Discussion:In the novel "Little Death" we read that the feeling of emptiness, at one point, paralyzed Ibn Arabi's daily life: "He said to me, 'What do you have today, Ibn Arabi? I said to him, 'A concern that does not leave my chest and a narrowness for which I find no relief.' (Alwan, 2016: 457) He did not enjoy his duties and was unmotivated to perform them: "Weeks followed weeks, and anxiety was the motivator of every stationary and mover in my life, which had become dark and thorny. I would care about something, then worry about it, and then leave it. If I had no work, I would worry and then care about things. I stopped writing 'Al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya' because I could no longer find anything to write in it except the old and repeated issues. I would fidget in my teaching of the students until I wished it would end as soon as possible. They would make mistakes, but I would not correct them, and if they asked, I would not prolong my answer." (Ibid., 356) This quote provides a vivid and moving picture of Ibn Arabi's psychological state at a certain period of his life. He, one of the greatest Islamic mystics and philosophers, deeply felt a sense of emptiness and meaninglessness. This psychological state not only affected his personal life but also cast a shadow over his academic and teaching work.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that:The experience of emptiness and the search for meaning is a universal and fundamental phenomenon that individuals may encounter at various stages of their lives. Even great philosophers like Ibn Arabi, despite his vast knowledge and wisdom, experienced this. This demonstrates that emptiness is a fundamental challenge inherent in human existence and is not limited to specific individuals. While existential psychology and Islamic mysticism view the issue of the search for meaning from different perspectives, they often arrive at similar conclusions. Ibn Arabi believes in discovering meaning through intuition and connection with the absolute truth, while Yalom emphasizes the active role of humans in creating meaning. These differences offer a deeper understanding of the experience of emptiness and ways to cope with it. The search for meaning is a dynamic and ongoing process that never ends completely. Ibn Arabi's experience and his reflections throughout his life confirm this reality. Ibn Arabi's active search for the meaning of existence, from a psychological perspective, is evidence of his psychological health and an existential approach to life. This shows that instead of avoiding fundamental existential questions, he actively and searchingly sought answers to ontological problems. This approach is in line with the foundations of existential philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of directly confronting existential questions and striving to find meaning in life.