بررسی ‌‌‌شخصیّت‌ اصلی‌ رمان إختفا‌ء‌ السیّد ‌لا أحد ‌برمبنای‌ نظریۀ روان‌درمانی‌ اگزیستانسیال‌ اروین ‌یالوم

Existential psychotherapy is influenced by existential philosophy and represents one of the more recent post-Freudian approaches. Ervin Yalom, an American psychologist and author, is a leading figure in this school of psychotherapy, which is considered a form of dynamic or experiential therapy. Existential psychology addresses the four ultimate human concerns: death, freedom, loneliness, and emptiness, as well as the conscious and unconscious fears and motivations that arise from each. This research, employing a descriptive-analytical method, introduces this theory and examines the novel "Ikhtefa Al-Sayyed" (Disappearance of Mr. Nobody) by Ahmad Taybawi from the perspective of existential psychotherapy. The ultimate human concerns—namely death, freedom and responsibility, loneliness, emptiness, and meaninglessness—are prominent in the novel. Many characters are lonely, lost, confused, and disappointed in life. The extent to which concerns are included in the characters of the novel highlights the painful events of the Black Algerian decade and their unfortunate effects on the psyche of the people. These events have caused individuals to turn inward and perceive themselves as isolated. Therefore, it should be noted that loneliness—not individual loneliness, but collective loneliness—is one of the central themes of this novel. There is very little dialogue throughout the story; the plot often unfolds through monologue, and the use of this technique reinforces the theme of loneliness. These four fears are especially evident in the main character of the story, "Ikhtefa Al-Sayyed" (Disappearance of Mr. Nobody), more so than in other characters. He feels alienated and disconnected from his homeland.
Introduction
Existentialism is a classical school of thought that emerged in modern philosophy and has secured a significant place in various fields of the humanities—particularly literature, art, and psychology. Among its many perspectives is Existential Psychotherapy, a theoretical framework offering techniques and principles for understanding human experience. Rather than presenting a specific therapeutic system, it advocates a philosophical approach to treatment and the human condition.
Irvin D. Yalom, an existential psychologist and American author, explores the existential concerns that lead to human suffering and dysfunction, offering potential ways to cope with them. The novel, as a literary form, serves as an effective medium for expressing such existential struggles. Algerian novels are no exception; most reflect the lived realities of the people, with the country’s turbulent history leaving a profound impact on its literary output.
One existential issue—existential anxiety—is examined in this study through the lens of Yalom’s theory. The research focuses on "Ikhtefa Al-Sayyed" (The Disappearance of Mr. Nobody) by Ahmad Taybawi, an Algerian novelist born in 1980 who holds a PhD in Management from the University of Blida. Influenced by the realist school, Taybawi, like many writers of his generation, demonstrates a strong affinity for Western literature. He was awarded the Nagib Mahfouz Literary Prize in 2021 for this novel.
The present study aims to analyze the protagonist of "The Disappearance of Mr. Nobody" using Yalom’s Existential Psychotherapy framework to address two primary questions:

According to Yalom’s theory, can the protagonist’s anxieties and concerns be classified as existential or ultimate concerns?
Which of Yalom’s four ultimate concerns—death, freedom, existential isolation, or meaninglessness—is most prominent in the novel and its protagonist?

Although a number of studies have addressed Yalom’s existential psychotherapy, its application to literary criticism remains relatively new. Moreover, no comprehensive research on this novel, especially in Persian, has yet been conducted.
Method
This study employs a descriptive–analytical approach. It first introduces the philosophical background of existentialism and the principles of Yalom’s existential psychotherapy. Then, after a brief overview of Taybawi and his novel, the research identifies and analyzes the existential concerns and ultimate anxieties reflected in the text. Since the novel has not yet been translated into Persian, all textual examples have been translated by the researcher for this study.
Findings
Existential psychotherapy is a dynamic therapeutic approach that focuses on the anxieties emerging from the human condition. It highlights the fundamental conflict between the individual and the givens of existence—what Yalom terms the four ultimate concerns: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Awareness of these concerns, according to Yalom, is essential for human growth, as each represents an unavoidable dimension of being.
In "The Disappearance of Mr. Nobody," all four existential concerns are vividly portrayed. Taybawi skillfully embodies these anxieties in his characters, particularly in the protagonist, Mr. No One. The motifs of death and isolation dominate the narrative, while freedom and meaninglessness emerge more subtly in the inner monologues of both the protagonist and the detective.
The theme of death anxiety is central to the novel. The protagonist loses his parents during childhood, followed by the deaths of his aunt and cousin, who raised him. His profound guilt over their deaths deeply shapes his psyche. From Yalom’s perspective, the fear of death is a fundamental existential concern that permeates the story, significantly influencing Mr. Nobod’s character development.
Freedom, another of Yalom’s ultimate concerns, is portrayed in its paradoxical, existential sense—the burden of total responsibility. Mr. Nobody lives in a homeland devoid of freedom and happiness; in his search for liberation, he moves from place to place. After escaping from a hospital, he is confronted with the anxiety of absolute freedom, initially denying it through self-imposed constraint, but ultimately asserting it by rejecting oppression and disappearing after the old man’s death—an act symbolizing his final self-determination.
The third concern, existential isolation, differs from ordinary loneliness. It refers to the fundamental separateness of human existence—from both others and the world itself. The “Black Decade” of Algerian history left lasting psychological scars, driving people inward and intensifying collective alienation. The novel, with its sparse dialogue and predominant use of monologue, effectively conveys this pervasive loneliness. Mr. Nobody epitomizes the Algerian individual who, alienated in his own homeland, feels detached from his country and its people.
Finally, a pervasive sense of meaninglessness permeates the novel’s atmosphere. Many characters experience despair and emptiness stemming from a lack of purpose in life. The traumas of the Black Decade instilled a profound sense of defeat among educated Algerians, leading some to contemplate suicide or withdraw from society, while others sought alternative ways to cope with their existential void.
Discussion
This study demonstrates that The Disappearance of Mr. No One embodies the principles of Yalom’s existential psychotherapy through its portrayal of the protagonist’s struggles with the four ultimate concerns—death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness. Modern Algerian fiction, as exemplified by Taybawi’s work, serves as a powerful vehicle for exploring national identity and the existential crises of its people.
The pervasive presence of these concerns in the characters reflects the collective trauma of Algeria’s Black Decade, which drove individuals inward and intensified both personal and collective solitude. The dominance of monologue over dialogue in the novel underscores this existential loneliness.
The protagonist, Mr. No One, represents the alienated Algerian individual—disconnected, despairing, and yearning for freedom. Confronted with all four existential anxieties, he initially denies them but ultimately accepts them, achieving dignity, freedom, and self-realization. Among the four concerns, death and isolation are the most prominent in both the protagonist and the novel as a whole.