Manifestations of the Self in the Diwan of Rawdah Al-Haj

Abstract

This study examines the formations of the self in Roḍa Al-Hajj’s poetry collection Then I Turned to the Shadow, focusing on three main manifestations of the self: the sublime self, the frail self, and the hidden self.

The study demonstrates how the ego within the poetic text oscillates between rupture and transcendence, loss and inner liberation, as well as pain and profound reflection. It also highlights the continuous interaction between the self and the other as a driving force shaping the experience of the self.

Methodologically, the research adopts a descriptive–analytical approach, supported by a psychological perspective to interpret layers of consciousness and the unconscious, as well as the processes of psychological rupture and renewal. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the structure and psychological dimensions of the self within the poetic text.

The findings indicate that poetry is not merely a medium for conveying meaning; rather, it constitutes a comprehensive psychological space that enables the ego to confront pain, concealment, and revelation, and to cope with the effects of loss and inner conflicts. Thus, the poetic text becomes an existential journey that reveals the depth and complexity of the self.

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