Absurdity and Human Existence in Yusuf Idris’sThe Farafir: A Philosophical Reading in Light of Existentialism

Abstract

This paper examines The Farafir, a seminal play by the Egyptian playwright Yusuf Idris, from an existentialist perspective, with a keen awareness of the concepts of absurdity, freedom, and alienation. The study argues that Idris employs the dynamic relationship between Farfour (the fool) and the Master to dramatise existential concerns, such as those explored by Western philosophers, including Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Drawing on textual analysis and existential principles, the paper illustrates how Idris’s portrayal of human war, the absurd, and entrenched social hierarchies reflects a well-known human quest for meaning. The research highlights the approaches in which Idris’s characters grapple with questions of self-determination, the anxiety among characters' will, societal constraints, and the inevitability of human isolation. By situating The Farafir inside both its Egyptian cultural context and the wider existentialist tradition, this examination of the play reveals its capacity to transcend local social and political critiques, offering a profound philosophical inquiry into the absurdity of human existence. In doing so, it underscores Idris’s role in bridging Arabic theatre with global intellectual movements.