IDENTITY CRISIS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY YEMENI FICTION-A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ZAYD MUTEE DAMMAJ'S THE HOSTAGE

Abstract

This paper examines the depictions of identity crisis in one of the well-known Yemeni novels i.e. Zayd Mutee Dammaj's The Hostage (1984). The study is an attempt to uncover the reasons behind that kind of crisis in the novel, which reflects the Yemeni internal conflict at that time. The research methodology is a qualitative analytical one and its theoretical framework has been appropriated based on Erikson's Psychological Stages of Human Development Theory and Silitonga's and Ambarita's features of identity crisis frame the analysis. The paper has been constructed in six sections: In addition to this introductory section, the second one provides a background about Yemeni fiction and Dammaj and his novel, The Hostage. The third is a literature review where some previous studies are discussed. The fourth provides the theoretical framework of the study. The fifth highlights the discussions and analysis in detail. And finally, the sixth section exposes the conclusion of the research paper. The paper concludes that identity crisis is portrayed in the novel through the character of the protagonist who undergoes crisis in identity as characterized by role confusion, isolation and irritation feelings, self-hatred and feeling of powerlessness. On the same issue, three reasons are figured out as causes of identity crisis. They are puberty reaching, degrading or humiliation as well as the bad mistreatment.