A Psychoanalytic Study of Zal, Keikavos and Rostam Based on the Theory of Transactional Analysis

Abstract

In contemporary times, with the priority given to specialization in literary research, interdisciplinary studies have become a new trend with an independent identity and form in current literary criticism. Psychoanalysis is one such specialized field whose relationship with literature is one of the most important of these relationships. Among the new psychoanalytical theories, "Transactional Analysis", first developed by "Eric Berne", is an efficient method to describe human behavior as codified. Ferdowsi's Shahnameh, is one of the most prominent classical narrative works in Persian literature, whose strength in employing narrative elements, dialogue, and characterization makes it a relevant subject for text-oriented analysis. Therefore, the present analytical descriptive research aims to analyze interactions of characters Za’al, Keikavos and Rostam based on the textual data. It is quite clear that if the "Mature" level of the characters' psyche had the guiding skill of the "Parent", the plot structure of Rostam and Sohrab's narrative would not follow the path of tragedy. In addition, the dominance of the "Parent" aspect in Keikavos and Rostam, and the absence of Za’al as an "Adult" is considered the core of the formation of this tragedy.

Keywords

• psychoanalytic criticism
• transactional analysis
• eric berne
• rostam
• keikavos
• za’al