The Adventure of Haji Baba of Isfahan: A Step Towards Combining the Tradition and Innovation in Iranian Fiction

Abstract

This research investigates tradition and innovation factors in the adventure of Haji Baba of Isfahan written by James Morier and translated by Mirza Habib-e Esfahani. Whereas this book has been considered as one of the first samples of new fiction in Persian literature, analyzing the role of tradition and innovation in it can help to identify the evolution of Iranian fiction. This research studied this subject by a descriptive-analytical method and showed a balanced combination of traditional and innovative factors in it. Based on the results, this book has a balanced composition of traditionalism and innovation in terms of fiction elements. Modernist tendencies have dominance in such cases as realism and attention to details in Characterization, attempting to increase the believability of the events in the story, minor descriptions, and observance of the tone; on the other hand, traditional tendencies have dominance in the stagnation of characters, methods of the characters’ introduction, effective factors in the advancement of events, and some motives, especially in romantic sections. In the topic of the style of writing, despite the successful attempt of the writer to be innovative in the Persian language, since this innovation has been impressed most of all by Said's poetic formulas, especially in Golestan, it can be regarded as an adaptation of tradition and a form of revival of it. Criticism of the traditional society of Iran and the contrast between tradition and modernity are the most important themes of the book. The writer has criticized tradition by a balanced approach and relying on the roots of tradition.

Keywords

• tradition
• innovation
• the adventure of haji baba of isfahan
• mira habib-e esfahani