The Phenomenon of Absurdity in Abu Nawas’s Poetry - An Analytical and Applied Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25130/jaa.17.60.12Keywords:
Abu Nawas, The Phenomenon of Absurdity, Manifestations of Absurdity, The Prevalence of Debauchery, Religious Transgressions, Alcohol, PoetryAbstract
This research aims to shed light on the phenomenon of absurdity in Abu Nawas, as it was represented in many manifestations of his poetry. It came in an introduction and two chapters. The introduction dealt with the concept of absurdity, and the first chapter dealt with the moral manifestations of absurdity, which were represented in the prevalence of debauchery and obscenity in his poetry, and his infatuation with young boys. The second chapter dealt with the transgressions in his wine poems, which were represented in religious transgressions and his praise of wine. The conclusion came: It contains the most important results that I reached, including: that the patterns of moral absurdity are multiple, so that they come together around the non-compliance with the moral controls and rules known to people. The manifestations of moral absurdity in Abu Nawas revolved around two prominent trends: the prevalence of debauchery and obscenity in his poetry, and his fascination with and infatuation with young boys. The debauchery in Abu Nuwas's poetry was coupled with the purpose of satire, which represented the culture of the era, and which tended to exchange the most heinous words and meanings, especially the phenomenon of homosexuality, which spread widely in the Abbasid era. Abu Nuwas's obsession with young boys was evident as a manifestation of his debauched extravagance; he was fascinated by beardless young boys, and his description of them was coupled with numerous religious transgressions, including their entitlement to worship and control over the lives of servants, with no difference between them being Muslim or non-Muslim. His absurdity reached the point of making a Christian swear by the cross so that he would pass by him, so that he would exchange greetings and words with him.
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