Study of Gender Metaphors Related to Women in Interpretive Stories (Case study of Rowz al-Janan, Jala al-Azhan and Manhaj al-Sadeghin)

Abstract

Metaphor is a symbolic and indirect language that conveys concealed and supplementarymeanings. Interpretive narratives may also exhibit gender metaphors and stereotypes. Thework is founded on the interpretive accounts of three Persian interpretations of Rowz al-Jannan, Jala al-Azhan, and Manhaj al-Sadeghin in this research. This article has selectednarratives that have employed gender metaphors or whose content is reminiscent of gendermetaphors. Subsequently, the qualitative content analysis method has been employed toinvestigate the value of these metaphors and their correlation with gender stereotypes.Examples of gender metaphors in these narratives include “bed,” “Boyut,” “Atbah,” and“Denya.” While some of these metaphors have a positive connotation, others have a negativeconnotation. The most significant findings of this research are that the majority of negativemetaphors about women are based on the role of a woman as a wife or sexual companion,which emphasizes her physical appearance. These metaphors are influenced by prevalentgender stereotypes that are detrimental. On the contrary, the majority of positive metaphorsare centered on the role of the mother and the qualities of kindness, creation, origin, andcommencement that are associated with the mother. In addition, this research demonstratesthat the female body is depicted in two distinct ways: the “heavenly body” and the “infernalbody.” The female heavenly body is a symbol of complete delight and benefit, while thefemale infernal body is a symbol of deception, sin, Satan, and adultery.

Keywords

• gender metaphor
• narration
• qur'an interpretation
• woman