Features of Oppression in Abdulhamid Bataw's Poetry

Abstract

The present study examines the phenomenon of oppression in the theatrical works of Abdulhamid Bataw, focusing on the pivotal role these dramatic texts play in expressing the playwright’s suffering under various forms of repressive authority. It also investigates the most prominent artistic techniques employed by the author to create dramatic atmospheres that reflect the reality of oppressed characters, as well as the different forms of oppression experienced by the dramatic personae within a society and political system characterized by totalitarianism. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to analyze a selected sample of the theatrical texts. It concludes that Abdulhamid Bataw, through the elements of dramatic structure, reveals multiple levels of oppression and their negative impact on the human being, such as injustice, domination, and alienation. These conditions are reflected in the intellectual’s feelings of submission, resignation, persecution, and fear. Furthermore, the playwright combines several theatrical movements and trends through which he articulates all latent attitudes opposing oppressive practices, presenting himself as a witness to the experiences of the intellectuals of his generation and the harsh, authoritarian realities they endured. These experiences ultimately