Journal of Arabic Language & Literature

Alienation Trends in the Poetry of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi in Light of Anthony Davids' Approach (The Complete Poetry Collection as a Model)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Yousef Motaqiannia 1
Seyyed Ahmad Mousavipanah 2

1 Ph.D. in Arabic Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran .

2 Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jall.2026.92791.1528
Abstract
This study examines the phenomenon of alienation in the poetry of Ghazi Al-Gosaibi through the analytical framework of sociologist Anthony Davids, employing a descriptive-analytical methodology. Alienation, a pervasive psychological and social condition in modern life, reflects the growing disconnection between individuals and their societies, and literature serves as a faithful mirror of this crisis. Davids’ approach identifies five axes of alienation, all of which are traced in Al-Gosaibi’s poetic corpus, though with varying intensity and frequency. The analysis reveals that egotism permeates Al-Gosaibi’s work, marked by self-withdrawal, meticulous narration of personal daily details, emotional detachment, and the use of obscure language that signals unfulfillment and a fractured self, increasingly distanced from communal cultural norms. Pessimism dominates his dark, bleak imagery, employing themes of lost satisfaction and frustrated desires to articulate the suffering of the Arab individual. His poems also express anxiety from a deeply personal perspective, rendering subjective inner experiences with honesty and emotional depth. Recurrent discontent is intertwined with persistent questions of both personal and collective identity, reflecting the cultural, political, and social marginalization that shattered the poet’s sense of self and undermined his belonging. The research concludes that Al-Gosaibi’s poetry embodies all five dimensions of Davids’ model, offering a poignant artistic testimony to modern alienation. His verse not only documents individual psychic fragmentation but also critiques broader societal structures that engender estrangement. Ultimately, this study underscores the relevance of sociological frameworks in literary analysis and affirms poetry’s power to give voice to existential and societal crises in the contemporary Arab world.

Keywords

Modern Arabic Poetry
Social Criticism
Anthony Davids
Alienation
Ghazi Al-Gosaibi
Subjects
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