Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies

Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies

Critical analysis of ideological discourse on caste in Shahnameh Based on Michel Foucault’s views (Case study: The story of Anoushirvan and the shoemaker)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Reza Ghanbari Abdolmaleki
Ailin Firoozian Pouresfahani
Damghan University
10.22075/jlrs.2021.22310.1851
Abstract
In order to investigate the relationship between ideology and power, the present paper has studied the social discourse of caste in the story of "Anushirvan and the Shoemaker," drawing upon Michel Foucault’s views within the theoretical framework of new historicism. By analyzing the concept of the caste system in this story, the study aims to explore the hidden layers of the text, namely the relationship between ideology and power in Anushirvan’s time. It is also aimed to examine the role of Zoroastrian ideology in promoting and institutionalizing the caste system. To achieve this goal, the present study is organized around two main questions: 1. Is the content of discourse on caste in Anoushirvan’s era a function of the socio-political situation around it? 2. How is Anoushirvan's ideological views on power revealed in the text of Ferdowsi's story? This is an archival study, conducted with a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings of this study shows that the discourse on caste, with the aid of religion as an ideological institution, helps superiors like Anushirvan rule the society and persuades inferiors to accept the status quo. In this way, caste becomes a tool for those in power to generate ideology and suppress their "subjects."
Keywords
Ideology
Ferdowsi
discourse
Michel Foucault
Caste system

  •  

    • Aghagolzadeh, F.(2007). Critical Discourse Analysis and Literature. Journal of Adab Pazhuhi. Volume 1. Number 1. Spring. Pp: 17- 27. [In Persian].
    • Ali Mohammadi. A (2017). Science / Ideology in the View of Louis Althusser; The position of the education system in power relations. Political Quartely. Spring. No. 13. Pp: 85- 107. [In Persian].
    • Althusser, Luis. (1971). Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses (Notes towards an Investigation). In Lenin and Philosophy and Other Essays, London: New Left Books,pp 86- 127
    • Althusser, L/ b (1971), On the Reproduction of Capitalism; Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses, trans. G.M. Goshgarian, London and New York
    • Ansari, G.(1960). Muslim Caste in Uttar Pradesh, Published by TheEthnografic and Folk Culture Sosiety, U.P,Lucknow
    • Asadi Amjad, F. (2009). A New Historical Study of Gender, Power, and Language In David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross. Journal of Literary Criticism. Volume Number 7. Pp:37-58. [In Persian].
    • Bahmani, Sh. al. (2019). Linguistic analysis of Shahnameh mythological stories in the framework of Fairclough critical discourse analysis. Journal of Sociolinguistics. Volume 2, Number 1 (7). Summer. Pp: 37- 55. [In Persian].
    • Bresler, Ch. (2017). An Introduction to Theories and Methods of Literary Criticism. Tehran: Niloofar. [In Persian].
    • Christensen, (2006). Sasanian. Translator: Rashid Yasemi. by Hassan Rezaei Bagh Bidi. Tehran: Sedaye Moaser. [In Persian].
    • Cohen, B (1993). An Introduction to Sociology. Translator: Mohsen Salasi, Tehran: Farhang e Moaser. [In Persian].
    • Dehghan, A & Yakhdansaz, N (2015). Discourse in the story of the murderer mosque based on the views of Michel Foucault. Research in Persian Language & Literature. No. 36. Spring. Pp: 102-83. [In Persian].
    • Fairclough, N (2000). Critical Discourse Analysis. Translators: Fatemeh Shayesteh Piran et al. Tehran: Media Studies and Research Center Publications. [In Persian].
    • Farter, Luke, F. (2007). Louis Althusser. Translator: Arian Amirahamdi. Tehran: Markaz. [In Persian].
    • Ferdowsi, A (1974). Shahnameh. edited by Jules Moll. Tehran: Book Joint Stock Company. [In Persian].
    • Foucault, M. (1980). Power/ Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Others Writings 1972- 1977. (ed by) Colin Gordon. New York: Pantheon
    • A & Fateme Casi (2017). Reading "Haftwad" story from the viewpoint of new historicism and discourse analysis. Literary Research. Volume 14, Number 56. Pp :53-83. [In Persian].
    • Haghparast, L. (2012). The Representation of Social Actors in the Story of Bahman's Vengeance Seeking from Shahnama and Bahmanama (Based on the Socio-semantic Elements in Critical Discourse Analysis). Language Related Research. 3 (2). Pp:1-27. [In Persian].
    • Hajli, A. (2016). Foucault, Discourse, Discourse Analysis. The Journal of Cultural Studies and Communication. Volume 12. Number 42. Spring. Pp: 88-63. [In Persian].
    • Hajizadeh, A & Mostafa Mehraein. (2015) Text and power theoretical framework for critical interpretation of text. Journal of Literary Criticism. Number 28. Winter. Pp: 51-31. [In Persian].
    • Hayward, S (2002). Important Concepts in Cinematic Studies. Translator: Fattah Mohammadi. Tehran: Hezareye sevvom. [In Persian].
    • Kalantari, S. et. al. (2009). Discourse analysis: with the emphasis on critical discourse as a method of qualitative research. Sociology Studies. Volume 2. Number 4. Fall. Pp 7- 28. [In Persian].
    • Khaifi, A. (2012). Study of the story of three drops of blood by Hedayat based on Michel Foucault's theory of power. Poetry Studies. Volume 4. Number 1. Winter. Pp: 59- 72. [In Persian].
    • Kulsnikov, A (1978). Iran at the beginning of the Arab invasion. translated by Mohammad Rafiq Yahyaei, Tehran: Agah. [In Persian].
    • Mahmoudi F. (2012). A New Historical Study of Discourse, Power, and Language in Behrangi’s Stories. Journal of Literary Criticism. Number 17. Spring, Pp: 175-191. [In Persian].
    • Makarik, I. (2011). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Literary Theories. Translators: Mehran Mohajer & Mohammad Nabavi, Fourth Edition, Tehran: Agha. [In Persian].
    • Minavi, M (1975). Tensor's Letter to Gashnsp. Second Edition. Tehran: Kharazmi. [In Persian].
    • Pourdavood, E (1977). Yasna. by Bahram Farhoushi, Tehran: University of Tehran Press. [In Persian].
    • Scruton, R.(1990) Ideologically Speaking. In The State of Language. (ed) C. Ricks and L. Michaels. Berkely: U of California
    • Shirkhoda, T (2019). Analysis of the discourse of power in the story of Rostam and Esfandiar from Foucault's perspective. Political Sociology of Islamic World. Volume 7, Issue 15. Summer and Autumn. Pp: 215-230. [In Persian].
    • Tabari, M. (1893). History of Prophets and Kings (History of Tabari). Translator: Abolghasem Payende, Second Edition. Tehran: Asatir. [In Persian].
    • White, Hayden.(1989) New Historicism: A Comment In The New Historicism. (ed). H. Aram Veser. New York: Routledge. Pp 293- 303
    • Yousofi A. et. al (2012). A Critical Discourse Analysis of Iranian Identity in Ferdowsi'sShahnameh (Case Study: The Story of Siavash). Journal of Historical Sociology. Volume 4. Number 2. Autumn and Winter. Pp. 145-172. [In Persian].
    • Zamani, M. et. al.(2018). Relation of Language and Power in the First Modern Persian Poetry (Critical Discourse Analysis of “Vafâ-ye be ʔahd” (Adherence to the Pledge)). The Journal of linguistic and Rhetorical Studies. Volume 8, Issue 16. Winter and Spring. Pp: 157-188. [In Persian].

     

Journal of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies
Volume 13, Issue 28
Summer 2022
Pages 257-286