Examining the Technical Characteristics of Mental Drama as Exemplified by Tawfiq Al-Hakim’s “ Nahrul Junoun”

Abstract

Taking as its starting point what is known as mental drama in the Arab world, a theatrical genre that employs a narrative form created by the pioneering writer Tawfiq al-Hakim, the study will focus primarily on the characteristics of this genre and upon those elements that distinguish it from other well-known theatrical drama forms. Taking al-Hakim’s shortest text “ Nahrul Junoun” as a model, the study analyzes theatrical elements and the philosophy of mental drama in order to explain each element and the method of its representation and employment.

      In addition, technical changes to theatrical elements, such as idea, development, characters, time, place, conflict, plot, solution are highlighted to show how they were deliberated changed by al_Hakim to make them fit his theory of the mental drama.

      Analysis of the technical characteristics of mental drama will focus on their connection with the function of the thought of this method. Their specific purpose will be deduced from an analysis of Hakim’s drama as well as his statements on drama theory, thus proving that Tawfiq al-Hakim was aware of the influence that these dramatic elements have on theorizing thought as they affect the dramatic artistic construction, and the aesthetics observed in theatrical works.