Matn/Pizhūhī-i Adabī (Sep 2024)
Critical Analysis of the Novel Telo Garden Based on Fairclough’s Theory
Abstract
Majid Gheisari's novel, Bagh-e Telo (Telo Garden), stands out in the genre of resistance literature in the post-war era due to its unique style, different from the author's earlier works. The key distinguishing features of this work, compared to previous works in the same field, are its focus on the status and identity of Iranian women, its challenge to the gender stereotype of men's presence in war, and its exploration of the issue of resistance and captivity among Iranian women during and after the war. This research employs Fairclough's critical approach to investigate influential discourses in the formation of the novel Bagh-e Telo. The study provides a descriptive and analytical analysis, revealing that the discourses governing the atmosphere of the novel serve to uphold existing power dynamics and social hierarchies. Women are portrayed as either part of the social structures or involved in the process of transforming them. The research findings suggest that the author of the novel Bagh-e Telo has effectively depicted the dominance of patriarchal ideas by portraying the overall state of women in society and the prevalence of unequal gender relations. Additionally, the author has skillfully placed women at the forefront of the story and portrayed their thoughts and actions in a way that challenges the prevailing ideological atmosphere. This approach allows for criticism of traditional beliefs and the transformation of power dynamics, ultimately leading to a shift in the social status of women under the influence of new humanistic and transgender perspectives.IntroductionThe conflict between Iraq and Iran is a significant historical event that profoundly influenced various areas of Iranian civilization, especially its literature. Various factors gave rise to a distinct sort of sustainable literature across diverse genres. During the war, the prevailing political and social environment, along with ongoing threats from the enemy, caused a significant shift in the theme of resistance novels. Many of these novels focused on strengthening the collective against the hostile. During this period, the writers who wrote about the conflict upheld literature's moral and ideological understanding. They also used literature to serve political purposes, emphasizing the responsibility of reinforcing faith (Mir Abdini, 1396, Vol. 3 and 4: 931). Following the conclusion of the Iran-Iraq war, society and its activists continued to be influenced by the symbolic and metaphorical atmosphere of the conflict (Nazari and Madani, 1386: 126). As a result, the production of sustainable literary works persisted. However, in the subsequent decades, as the political and social climate of the country evolved and transformed, moving away from a period of war and the disappearance of enemy threats, along with the diminishing revolutionary fervor and the realization of the war's extensive damage in various aspects and the shift in cultural policies, the conditions were created for the emergence of novels with fresh and innovative themes. Transformed. One of the subjects worth mentioning is the discourse plan of women's rights advocacy groups, which have analyzed the impact of war from a more personal and inherently compassionate standpoint. The novel "Bagh Telo" is an example of a work in which the author, influenced by the social, cultural, and ideological environment, is dedicated to creating a unique piece of literature and presenting a distinct narrative. In this particular book, the author focuses on the individuality of women and their role during and after the war, in contrast to the prevailing portrayal of women in stable novels as mere possessions of males (Javadi Yeganeh and Safi, 2012: 86). This essay adopts a critical analysis approach to Farklough's discourse, focusing on its sociological dimensions. The analysis covers both the macro level, which includes society and ideology, as well as the micro level. (Aghagolzadeh, 1386: 18). To examine the impact of current discussions on the creation of this novel and determine if these discussions reinforce the prevailing power dynamics and the role of women in society, or if they aim to challenge and alter them.Literature ReviewIn recent years, the genre of sustainable writing has garnered significant interest from researchers. Several works in this domain have been examined using various approaches to literary analysis and from diverse viewpoints. However, the novel Bagh Telo is one of the works in this genre that has received limited attention in literary studies. Sheikh Alizadeh, Farhanaz (1386) and Khadimikolaei, Mehdi et al. (1397) conducted research on the novel "They have placed a garden." Sheikh Alizadeh's paper is titled "The Hero's Life: A Look at Bagh Telo," while Khadimikolaei et al.'s piece is titled "Modernist Industries in the Holy Defense Novels Based on My Novels and Bagh Telo." Both articles focus on analyzing the novel. Saeedi, Mehdi (2015), has conducted an analysis of this work in the third chapter of the book Fictional Literature of War in Iran (pages 216-227). The researcher presents Bagh Telo as a novel and unfamiliar contribution to the subject of sustainability, which deserves attention for its exploration of a human issue concerning war survivors and the significant role of women. Our examination of these studies reveals that no research to date has explored the novel Bagh Telo within the framework of Farclough's discourse analysis. Consequently, it is crucial to thoroughly explore this work and analyze both its overt and covert aspects from this perspective.MethodologyWe have compiled this article using the descriptive-analytical method. Research and information gathering involve utilizing library resources as a primary method. We chose specific passages from Bagh-Telo's novel for the subsequent stage and examined them using Fairclough's discourse analysis method.ConclusionThrough a comprehensive examination of the novel Bagh Telo, we can discern that its underlying ideology challenges the societal norms and limitations imposed on women by authoritative institutions. This is evident in the work's exploration and analysis of the experiential, relational, and expressive values. This topic has transformed the work into a battleground for the clash between the conventional patriarchal viewpoint and the contemporary humanistic and transgender viewpoint. The gender classification system and dual oppositions, present in both terminology and directives as well as ideological statements, express ideological distinctions at the descriptive level. From an interpretive perspective, we can assert that this piece has established an intertextual connection with works that underscore female identity and uniqueness. In the explanation section, the author of the work discusses the ideological ideas of the patriarchal system, including gender stereotypes, male supremacy, and female inferiority. The author also questions conventional beliefs and offers a hidden critique of patriarchal hegemonic discourse. The aim is to challenge power dynamics, resist the marginalization and oppression of human identity, and transform societal power relations. Women are marginalized by powerful institutions.
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