THE SOCIAL-POLITICAL MORAL CRITICISM IN THE POEM HAWĀMISH ‘ALĀ DAFTAR AL-NAKSA AND THE POEM LES PAUVRES GENS

Abstract

This study examines and compares the social-political moral criticism in Nizar Qabbani’s Hawāmish ‘alā Daftar al-Naksa and Victor Hugo’s Les Pauvres Gens, aiming to offer concrete evidence of East–West literary comparison that challenges Eurocentric frameworks. It emphasizes that literary value should not be judged solely by Western aesthetic standards, as each work is shaped by the poet’s cultural and historical context. Using a descriptive qualitative method, the study interprets each poem by linking its language and themes to its socio-political background. Data were collected through library research and analyzed using Marxist Humanism. The research highlights the stylistic contrast between the two poets: Qabbani employs direct, sharp, and metaphorical language, while Hugo adopts a narrative and romantic tone. Both poems criticize authorities for social inequality, poverty, injustice, and political repression. Qabbani’s poem makes explicit accusations regarding the Arab world’s defeat—blaming moral decay, internal conflict, and political oppression. Hugo, in contrast, conveys implicit criticism of poverty and social inequality in France under the authoritarian rule of Napoleon III. Although written a century apart, the poems share a common message: literature can be a powerful instrument of social critique and change. The comparison reinforces that literary evaluation must consider diverse cultural perspectives rather than rely solely on Eurocentric standards.