Exploring the Inner World: Study of Raja Gidh in the light of Ghazalian Theory of Soul and Freudian Psychoanalysis

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to explore the intricacies of human mind, as portrayed through the characters of a famous novel Raja Gidh (1981) written by Bano Qudsia. For an in depth analysis, two legendary intellectuals i.e., Ghazali, a famous scholar of the Muslim world of 11th century and Freud, the genius of 20th century, have provided the theoretical framework. The research design is based on thematic analysis of the selected novel. The study has adapted Attride Sterling‘s (2001) model of the textual data analysis, which is divided into three stages of data reduction, exploration and data complication or interpretation. A detailed study of Ghazalian and Freudian theories is done to devise a coding framework. Ghazalain nafs e ammara, nafs e lawwamma, nafs e mutmainna and aql, and Freudian id, ego and superego have guided the coding and interpretation of the selected novel. The analysis of Raja Gidh which is carried out in post positivist tradition inside the parameter of the selected theories, provides an insight into the relevance of the psychological issues in modern world, thus, strengthening our belief in the similar workings of human mind, regardless of the variances in time and space. Moreover, it has also revealed that the incorporation of Eastern and Western insights for studying human mind has the potential of becoming an effective critical approach for psychological analysis in the realm of English literature.