Madness in Arabic Narratives
On March 6, 2019, the Language Research Center of King Khalid University hosted an insightful presentation by Dr. Mahmoud Radwan, titled "Madness in Arabic Narratives."
Dr. Radwan commenced by defining 'madness' as a severe mental illness, an act of extreme foolishness, or a state of chaotic activity. He explored how this concept intricately interweaves with literature.
He emphasized that literature has always been closely tied to madness. This connection extends not only to the mental state of the author but also to the characters they create. Dr. Radwan outlined three primary ways that madness manifests in literature. Firstly, it can be associated with the "mad writer," often real-life authors known to have grappled with mental illnesses. Secondly, it refers to "mad characters" depicted in literary works. Lastly, it involves the use of psychological terms to describe literary madness.
The speaker cited various authors, including Guy de Maupassant, Ezra Pound, Jonathan Swift, Jack London, and Virginia Woolf, all of whom suffered from mental health conditions. Dr. Radwan also elaborated on how some authors used 'mad' characters to delve into the exploration of human behavior, contradictions, inner turmoil, and pathological actions.
The final part of Dr. Radwan's presentation dealt with the incorporation of madness in Arabic narratives. He mentioned Mohamed Al-Samman's work, "Madness in Arab Culture," describing it as one of the most comprehensive critiques of the discourse on madness. He further added that Arab writers often employ the motif of madness as a textual strategy to challenge the culture of silence surrounding intentionally evaded discourses, thereby unveiling a world that is typically concealed. Noteworthy authors who utilize such techniques include Khudeir Miri (Iraq), Samiha Khrais (Jordan), Usama Issa (Palestine), Ahmed Yousif Dawood (Syria), Ghazi Abdul Rahman Al-Gosaibi (Saudi Arabia), Walid Damag (Yemen), Khairy Shalaby (Egypt), Ihab Adlan (Sudan), and Ismail Yebrir (Algeria).
In conclusion, Dr. Radwan's seminar was both illuminating and successful, offering profound insights into the intriguing nexus of madness and literature, particularly within Arabic narratives.
