Psychological Analysis of the Characters of the Novel "Al Farashat Wal Ghilan" Written by Ezzeddin Jalawji through Freudian Perspective

Introduction

Psychoanalysis is the study of the human psyche. This field of research can probe deep into a person by perceiving their subconscious mind and determining their mental levels. Literature originates from the human mind and soul and has a deep connection with the poet or writer. Nowadays, the characters of literary works can be psychologically analyzed like real people, which helps a lot of to better understand the work and the development of literature. Psychological criticism brings the reader to the bottom layers the text in such a way that he gets a deep understanding of the text and characters. The application of psychoanalysis in literary criticism affords a critical approach to studying works like novels for children.

Methodology

This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on Freud's psychoanalysis to read and scrutinize “Al Farashat Wal Ghilan,” a novel from Arabic literature dedicated to children and young adults written by Ezzeddin Jalawji. The aim is to psychoanalyze war and its impact on society, particularly children. Freud believed that the novel has a nature similar to psychoanalytic case studies. The purpose of psychological criticism is to understand the author`s psychology. Freud was the initiator of this movement. Freud was of the opinion that most behaviors are rooted in unconscious processes. Unconscious processes mean beliefs, fears and desires that a person is not aware of. He extracted psychoanalytic concepts psychoanalytic treatment methods from literature, and this research is also in line with the same vision. The characters in this novel are analyzed based on Freud's personality levels and the defense mechanisms adopted by the characters when encountering anxiety.

Results and Discussion

The novel’s main character is a child who is actively in play throughout the story and is enduring and tolerating the huge psychological pressure emanating from anxiety during the war and the unpleasant and horrible events they experience. Upon an attack by the enemies, Mohammad loses all of his family members, except for his sister. Soon, they leave their home toward a nearby village where their aunt is living, and then, overwhelmed by the fear of attacks by the Serbs, they all run away and take refuge in the camp of the war victims. The story characters are highly insecure and anxious at different levels of personality, i.e. from ego to superego, and experience a severe trauma emanating from the terrible fatality of their loved ones. As such, they adopt diverse defense mechanisms such as "regression", "denial", "repression", and "identification" to achieve peace and balance.

War is an anti-human crisis that has negative effects on human psyche, especially children and civilians. Of all the war’s victims, homeless and orphaned children are more exposed to mental damage. Migration and distance from homeland, despair, confusion, stealing and trafficking of children and woman. Hungriness and famine, infectious diseases, separation from the family, school drop-out, inadequate or no surveillance, and post-incident anxiety and shock are all behavioral consequences of war.

Conclusion

The novel’s main character is a child who is actively in play throughout the story and is enduring and tolerating huge psychological pressure. However, by adopting positive defense mechanisms, Mohammad persists in defending his homeland's liberty and supporting his relatives. Thus, he stands as a proper pattern for children of the same age. Through repression, sublimation, compensation, and identification, Mohammad plays his role in the story as a child's wisdom and grows under hardships until jumping from “ego” to “superego”. Accordingly, he is an ideal pattern of a robust and loyal character to his family and homeland.

The characters' traumatic experiences have induced fear and anxiety, prompting them to utilize defense mechanisms such as repression, sublimation, conversion, and altruistic surrender as coping strategies.

The adult characters in the novel frequently employ sublimation and repression as coping mechanisms to confront the horrific realities of war and overcome despair. Figures such as Suleiman and Sheikh, dominated by their superegos, utilize these defense mechanisms to resist and lead, symbolizing hope and national commitment. Conversely, female characters like Maryam and Khaleh Mohammad exhibit psychological challenges stemming from loss and anxiety, manifested through denial, displacement, and hysterical reactions. Ultimately, however, they demonstrate emotional resilience and a supportive role. Mohammad's mother and her husband's brother, driven by a strong superego, exemplify characters who manage their anxiety through self-sacrifice and dedication to familial and societal duties.

This analysis underscores that, alongside suffering, defense mechanisms can serve as tools for survival, resilience, and the transmission of human and collective values. The novel chronicles the lives of innocent people targeted by Serbian atrocities, including the brutal burning of bodies, mutilation of the deceased, and the creation of harrowing scenes that inflict severe psychological trauma, particularly on children.