Sohrab Sepehri's Poetic Utopia: A Silent Protest against the Policies of the Second Pahlavi Era

Abstract

Whenever we speak of protest, our minds immediately turn to poets such as Akhavān-Sāless, Ahmad Shamlou, Siāvash Kasrāʾi, Hamid Mosaddeq, and Shafiei Kadkani, among others. Many people find it difficult to accept Sohrāb Sepehri's protest against the socio-political system of his time since he did not conform to the prevailing standards of the time. It has been difficult for many to understand his protest because of the different approach he has taken to this issue. To discover a dimension of Sepehri's personality and worldview that has been overlooked, this study examines his two poems entitled "Water" and "Behind the Seas". It is a descriptive-analytical study, and the results are analyzed using a content analysis methodology. Therefore, Sepehri attempts to demonstrate his opposition to the current situation by illustrating his ideal and desired society in contrast to the current situation.

Keywords

• sohrāb sepehri
• protest
• utopia
• sociopolitical issues