Duality of Sinbad's Mask in the Poetry of Abdul-Vahab Al-Byati: Parallelism and Reversal

The complicated political and social condition of Arab nations in the contemporary era along with artistic motivations led the contemporary poets to articulate their inner thoughts and emotions rather indirectly. In this respect mask became the supreme literary device to signify symbols and myths. What has made mask popular among men is the close resemblance to man’s ideas and thoughts. In this article the duality of Sinbad in Al-Bayati’s verses are examined. He is rightfully the Sinbad of Arabic poetry for this mask theorist produced highly artistic inspirational poetries in addition to bearing the common experience with the traveler archetype and identification with the Sinbad character. By exploring the common aspects of his own experience with of Sinbad’s he was able to set this folklore archetype as an expression of his inner anxieties in a human and universal context. In addition to employing the mask in a parallel and harmonious manner, due to his various related experience, Al-Bayati has converted the character of Sinbad so tactfully in such a way to portray himself.