Fragments of Dystopia: The Demonic City in the Poetry of Ahmed Matar

Abstract

Dystopia, in its simplest terms, is like the law of the brothers of Joseph: "Man is a wolf to his fellow man." Despite its diverse forms, literature has maintained its idealized image for centuries, preventing the emergence of alternative forms of the utopian city. The rhythm of this ideal city has continued to resonate across all themes, forms, and visions, from the time of Plato, who depicted the face of the perfect city, to Al-Farabi, who employed Plato's concept within an Islamic context. Many philosophers and writers have also embarked on creating imagined ideal worlds, realized through the concept of nowhere, after their dreams were severely diminished by their lived reality. This is because utopian literature seeks to prove its idealism despite the wars, killings, and chaos that humanity suffers. While the theme of the ideal city was explored in literary works, appearing as a consistent pattern of commitment, an opposing trend emerged, directing its discontent with reality and attempting to strip away its embellishments to reveal its true nature. Thus, utopia gradually faded and diminished, as it instilled "a spirit of fear and anxiety even among the proponents of the ideal world." In this way, dystopia was born from the womb of utopia, becoming a cry of protest that shook the foundations of ideal worlds.