An Analysis of Abolfazl Zarūyi Nasrābād’s Satirical Ghazal "Self-Censorship" Based on Michael Riffaterre’s Semiotic Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Persian Language and Literature, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Ph.D. student of Persian language and literature, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Iran, Tehran.

Abstract

Abolfazl Zarūyi Nasrābād, a contemporary satirist, endeavors to mirror and critique social, cultural, and political issues in his works while fostering deeper public awareness. This qualitative research, utilizing Michael Riffaterre’s semiotic theory, analyzes Zarūyi Nasrābād’s satirical ghazal to explore his approach to uncovering hidden meanings in this text. Through heuristic and retroactive readings, the study identifies semantic and conceptual structures in the ghazal "Self-Censorship." The analysis reveals that Zarūyi Nasrābād critiques issues such as injustice, poverty, discrimination, and hypocrisy using satire. Three interrelated descriptive systems—"the suffering individual," "the tyrannical oppressor," and "social justice"—are connected through linguistic elements, enabling a systematic reflection of socio-economic anomalies. The core matrix of "Self-Censorship," i.e. the necessity of satirical critique to reduce injustice and social despair, underscores Zarūyi Nasrābād’s critical perspective, for which he employs satire as a means of expressing protest and raising social awakening. The use of satirical devices deepens critiques, enhances audience engagement, and ultimately transforms satire into an instrument of social reform.

Keywords

References

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Journal Of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies
Volume 16, Issue 41
In Progress
September 2025
Pages 1-28

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