narcissism signs in al-mutanabbi’s life

6 / journal (spring summer ( 2012 issue 6research in arabic language and literature: foreign languages faculty research biannualnarcissism signs in al-mutanabbi’s lifeand fakhr (poems in which the poet exalt himself/herself)khodadad bahri*abstractal-mutanabbi is one of the most salient arab poets as well as one of the most effective ofthem in arabian literature. he has composed many poems in different kinds as madh(eulogy), ratha (elegy), fakhr (glory) and etc., but fakhr dominates his poetry such a waythat the reader is able to find its trace in all of his qaside (ballade), either that qaside is aboutfakhr or heja or ratha, but fakhr is specific to his poetry unlike other poets'. the poet, despitehis much devotion to fakhr, does not praise his nation and he does not abandon praisinghimself even at the time of praising the eulogists. therefore, it is hypothesized in this studythat al-mutanabbi is afflicted with too much self-infatuation and pride, or as psychologistscall it, he suffers from narcissism.early in this study, the term narcissism is investigated lexically, and then, the concept iselucidated from the psychologists’ view points. the symptoms of the narcissist people arealso counted. then, the study mentions some of the al-mutanabbi’s poems which indicatenarcissism, and as evidence in this regard, the writer compares the lexical signs with thebehaviors the poet has demonstrated in his life which confirm his narcissist personality. inaddition, through investigating al-mutanabbi's life and the environment where he hadgrown up in and his gifted talents, the cause of narcissism in his personality is explained.finally, the writer concludes that there are signs of narcissism in the al-mutanabbi'spersonality which have revealed themselves through megalomania, diminution of people,ignoring his ancestors for glory, exaggerating difficulties, over-boasting , and anunfaithfulness to the adored.key words: narcissism, fakhr, al-mutanabbi*assistant professor of arabic literature persian gulf university, bushehr. e-mail:[email protected].