Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
PhD, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2
Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Literature has long served as a mirror of human society, reflecting the ongoing interaction and mutual influence. Therefore, the concepts, meanings, and sometimes the structures of a literary work undergo metamorphosis alongside societal changes. Given this dynamic interaction between society, culture, and literature and the knowledge it offers the researcher and reader about each period, it is necessary to examine the achievements of each literary period to understand its facets better. Abd al-Rahman Yusuf’s critical and protest-oriented works serve as a poignant case study in this regard. This research investigates the content of Yusuf’s poetry and his engagement with his contemporary world, moving beyond a purely descriptive approach to analyze the profound impact of the surrounding environment on his poems. The findings show that his society’s sociopolitical conditions deeply influence the poet. With a vigilant and empathetic mind, and by eschewing complex rhetoric or excessive poetic artifices, he directly critiques critical issues, including poverty, class conflict, the massacre of innocent people, the looting of national capital, rampant corruption within Egyptian society, systemic failures of the legal system, the torture and unjust imprisonment of citizens, as well as sectarianism and divisiveness. These concerns, which predominantly affect the lower classes, have significantly contributed to the popularity and resonance of his poetry. At times, the poet expresses the height of pain and suffering through profound mockery, ridicule, and scorn, ensuring that even the highest figures in the government system are not immune to his sharp, stinging tone. Ultimately, beyond criticizing society and describing its bitter realities, the poet seeks to uncover the root causes of these problems and cultivate a resilient, fighting spirit among the Egyptian people.
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