Document Type : research article
Authors
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Abstract
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Archetypal criticism, known as a branch of psychological criticism, can be considered as a good criterion for analyzing literary texts. In this respect, the well-known "mother archetype" is regarded as one of the most significant and critical archetypes. Regarding the fact that this archetype has profound effects on not only artistic creations and creative areas in human mind but also, even more, on one’s personality; nobody can be excluded from its effects (all individuals are influenced by this archetype). This archetype has arisen, like other archetypes, in both positive and negative aspects. In this article, its positive aspects in Badr Shakir al-Sayyab’s poetry, one of the greatest poets in modern Arabic poetry and free verse movement, is investigated. Mother archetypal in al-Sayyab’s poetry has arisen in such forms like mother, grandmother, earth and tree and all of these concepts show a passion for the mother and return to the original.
2. Theoretical Framework
The most important theory of Jung, Swiss psychologist, is about the unconsciousness of human mind. Jung divides the psyche into two categories, self-consciousness and unconsciousness, and calls the contents of the collective unconsciousness “Archetype". Archetypes are ancient concepts that have always influenced human mind, and they usually have common and identical meanings among various nations. One of the most important archetypes is “Mother” archetype. The mother's face is a mystical and sacred face in the unconsciousness of human mind. Mother Archetype can be considered as a very important and vital archetype. It has two positive and negative aspects and this is the property of the archetype, because the archetype is a symbol and the symbol also has a bipolar property. One of the manifestations of Mother Archetype is the earth, water, sea, rain, mountain, etc., or anything else that brings about the sense of sacrifice. These are all positive aspects of Mother Archetype. Among the human forms in which the real mother appears, is “real mother, grandmother, Stepmother, and any woman who has a relationship with her, such as a nurse”. Mother in the world of nature has manifested itself in various aspects. Many of the things that inspire the feeling of sacrifice, service, compassion, and kindness can be seen as mothers' manifestations, such as university, city, earth, forest, sea, and etc. If the positive content of the archetype is not revealed consciously and is suppressed, their energy will be transferred to negative aspects. In this case, the Mother archetype will not be excluded.
3. Methodology
Considering the necessity of scientific approaches to the study of literary texts, especially using the old approach of Jung's model in analyzing works with outstanding psychological dimensions, we use a descriptive-analytical method and Yung's ideas in studying the “Mother Archetype” in Badr Shakir al-Sayyib’s poetry.
4. Discussion & Conclusion
Mother Archetype has the same feature as two-way (bipolar) symbols (positive and negative) due to its archetypal nature. In its positive aspect, it is a diagram of all emotions and maternal tendencies, such as fertility, breeding, and vegetable. Undoubtedly, this Archetype is one of the main attributes of Sayyab's poetry which is reflected in his poems. Perhaps it is due to the loss of his mother at an early age, and later the loss of his grandmother, the bitter Arab political events, that this archetype has always been alive in his mind and is manifested in his poetry in the form of special symbols. In the poem of Sayyab, the Mother Archetype appeared in reality in two aspects of "mother" and "grandmother." The poet, who has been deprived of maternal affections at childhood, always spoke about his mother and after his mother, the only source of affection was his grandmother. Mother Archetype in its natural form is found in the "earth", "water" and "tree". Earth is the most important symbol of Mother Archetype due to its fertility and reproduction. Earth in general and Jikor in particular are the aspects of Mother Archetype in Sayyab's poetry. By establishing a relationship between Mother Archetype and the earth in his expression of fertility, Sayyab sees verdurous and fertile Jikor as a mother hugging her children. Water is an example of the positive symbol of mother because of its inherent fertility and birth in nature. Boveyeb River is considered as one of symbols that refer to fertility and vegetation in Sayyab's poetry. Rain in his poem also means the end of darkness, drought and famine, and the beginning of the brightness, fertility, and birth. The water, the rain and the river in his poem are the beginning of birth and fertility. The orange trees, berries and wheat clusters are aspects of reproduction and Mother Archetype.
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