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Of species and symbolisms: exploring the peculiar world of Tewfik al-Hakim's Fate of a Cockroach

This article probes the powerlessness of human beings in natural and uncontrolled human phenomena. For people to be free from all levels of avowed oppression, they must understand the iconic symbols involved in the how and why of their ‘imprisonment’. This submission, substantiated with reference to Rousseau and Karl Max, avers that ‘man is born free but everywhere is in chains’. ‘Man’ can then conceptualise efforts to achieve better and higher levels of life, but in doing this, failure stares him in the face, if he allows the ‘senselessness of life’ (according to the absurdist theory) to overrule him. Success is assured if he vigorously rubs against the limiting forces of life – physical, socio-cultural, religious, work, psychological – that tie him. This article crystallises these phenomena with Tewfik al-Hakim's play Fate of a Cockroach in mind. It brings to the fore human socio-political, religious, scientific, economic and cultural foibles and limitations. It posits that most human limitations and problems (religious or secular) are generated, created and maintained by fear. To have freedom, therefore, it is suggested that a world of communality, like that of the ants, be created where everyone is important and considered: an egalitarian society devoid of absurdity, hollowness and vulgar crystallisations.