A New Reading of Women in Iranian and Lebanese Society based on Giddens Theory

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. in Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

3 Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

The togetherness of literature and society is one of the subjects of interest in literary research. In this respect, social novels, more than any other literary work, can reflect the events and realities of society. The association between tradition and modernity is also reflected in these works as a social issue and the sociology of literature attmepts to explain this relationship. Alongside the arrival of modernity in Iran and the Arab countries, there was an obvious confrontation between it and the existing traditions in the society, and, accordingly, the authors portrayed this confrontation with special delicacy in their works. Since common infrastructures and cultural similarities are the factors for matching the two literary works, this study examines the two novels Ana Ahia by Leila Balabaki and Adat Mikonim by Zoya Pirzad. The authors of these two novels embark on Anthony's theory. Giddens represents a new look in the four areas of culture, society, economics, and politics as a theorist whose views on Eastern societies and women's issues are groundbreaking and reflect on the interaction and interaction of tradition and modernity between the Iranian and Arab societies. Examining the common themes of these two novels reveals the conflict between traditional and modern beliefs about women. Furthermore, traditional, cultural, and social features are being observed more than modern elements in these two novels. The efforts of the main female characters of the novels that reflect the confrontation between their modernist beliefs and the traditions that govern the family and society are in vain. 
Introduction:
Dynamisms of the society, thoughts, and social customs are a number of issues that are reflected in the language and literature of societies. The relationship between tradition and modernity is also one of these issues. Zoya Pirzad is a contemporary Iranian novelist who pays much attention to social realities in her works. Adat Mikonim is one of his most prominent works, in which he also talks about the contrast between tradition and modernity. Leila Balabaki is also one of the great Arabic-language novelists who pays attention to social realism in her works and, in her most important work Ana Ahya, she has depicted social realities. It is the challenges that are faced by the contemporary man in the movement of developing societies from tradition to modernity. Since the authors of the novels Ana Ahya and Adat Mikonim are almost contemporary and their societies have gone through the same cultural changes, it is crucial to conduct a comparative research considering the cultural infrastructure of the two Iranian and Arabic Societies. Therefore, the current research tries to investigate tradition and modernity as social phenomena, relying on Giddens' theories and implying a descriptive-analytical method. In this article, the elements of tradition and modernity are categorized into four parts; culture, society, economy, and politics, and some of the examples mentioned in both novels are analyzed according to the mentioned indicators.
Method:
The current research is an attempt to investigate tradition and modernity as the two social phenomena in these two novels, relying on Giddens' theories and using a descriptive-analytical method. Common infrastructures and cultural similarities can be counted as a reason for comparing the two literary works. Besides, since these two authors have given great importance to society in all their works, their novels can be a suitable platform for studying society. Among the different schools of comparative literature, the current research is based on the Eastern European School.
Results and Discussion:
The novels Adat Mikonim and Ana Ahya are both written by women writers whose main concern is women and their related issues, and they have selected the main characters of the novel among the women. Attempt has been made to reflect their efforts for independence, freedom, and gender equality. Due to the many cultural commonalities between the Iranian and Lebanese societies, the traditions governing these societies were examined in the four domains of culture, society, economy, and politics. In the cultural field, the selfishness of some characters in the form of consumerism and luxuries to cover up old thoughts is one of the issues that can be targeted in both novels. In the social arena, the writers are welcoming modernity by rejecting patriarchal culture, women's freedom, equal rights with men, women's managerial role in society, etc. In the economic field, the employment of female characters is a manifestation of their independence. In the political field, it can be declared that the presence of women in politics is one of the signs of modern societies.
Conclusion:
Examining the common themes of these two novels reflects the conflict between traditional and modern beliefs about women, and traditional cultural and social indicators are seen more than modern elements in these two novels. The efforts of the main female characters in the novel that reflect the confrontation between their modernist beliefs and the ruling traditions of the family and society remain fruitless. Furthermore, based on Giddens' theory of social structure, tradition continues to exist even in the most modern societies. Dodhed, holds the idea that it is these traditions that determine their path, and the authors impose the social reality of their time on the main characters of the novel, despite their tendency towards modernity.
 
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [العربیة]

قراءة جدیدة لاوضاع النساء فی إیران و لبنان فی ضوء نظریة «غیدنز» (التقلید و الحداثة فی روایتی أنا أحیا و عادت می‌کنیم نموذجاً)

Abstract [العربیة]

وجود العلاقة بین الأدب والمجتمع یعد من المسائل ذات أهمیة قصوى فی البحوث الادبیة. الروایات الإجتماعیة تعکس أحداث المجتمع بوتیرة أکبر من سائر الأنواع الأدبیة. وقد إنعکست العلاقة المتبادلة بین التقلید والحداثة فی الآثار الأدبیة بإعتبارها مسالة ذات بعد إجتماعی. ماإن وصلت الحداثة إیران والبلدان العربیة حتى وقع خلاف واضح بینها وبین التقالید السائدة على المجتمع ما صوره الکتاب فی آثارهم بشیئ من الطرافة.
بماأن المشترکات الثقافیة تعد عاملاً أساسیاً للمقارنة بین الأعمال الأدبیة والروائیة، لذلک قمنا فی هذا المقال بدراسة مقارنة للروایتین أنا أحیا للیلى بعلبکی اللبنانیة و عادت می‌کنیم لزویا بیرزاد الإیرانیة فی أربعة حقول "الثقاقة والاجتماع والإقتصاد والسیاسة "وفی ضوءنظریة "آنتونی غیدنز"الذی أصبحت آراءه فی شؤون المرأة محط إهتمام علماء الإجتماع فی البلدان الشرقیة نظراً إلى کونها نظریات تساعد على حلحلة المشاکل التی تعانی منها المرأة فی المجتمعات الشرقیة. وقد حاولنا فی مقالنا هذا، إعطاء صورة واضحة عن الصراع القائم بین التقلید والحداثة فی المجتمع اللبنانی والإیرانی کنموذجین من البیئة الشرقیة والآثار التی یترکها هذا الصراع على المرأة العربیة والإیرانیة. أظهرت دراسة المضامین المشترکة بین الروایتین أن هناک صراعا حاداً بین التقلید والحداثة وأن المؤشرات الثقافیة والإجتماعیة التقلیدیة فی الروایتین هی أکثر وأبرز من عناصر الحداثة الموجودة فیهما. إلاأن المجهود الذی بذله أبطال الروایتین للمواجهة بین رؤاهم الحدثانیة والتقالید السائدة على الأسرة والمجتمع ذهب أدراج الریاح. بناءعلى نظریة "غیدنز"الموسومة بنظریة "التشکیلة الإجتماعیة "أن التقالید تستمر فی حیاتها حتى فی أکثر المجتمعات حداثة. وفی نهایة المطاف أن‌ التقلید هو الذی یقرر مصیر المجتمعات. ثم أن مؤلفی الروایتین رغم نزوعهما نحو الحداثة حملاً شخصیات روایتیهما واقع حیاة عصریهما.

Keywords [العربیة]

  • التقلید والحداثة
  • أدب المرأة
  • لیلی بعلبکی
  • زویا پیرزاد
  • أنا أحیا
  • عادت می‌کنیم
  • آنتونی غیدنز

References

Ahmadi, B (1998), Modernity and Critical Thought, Tehran: Markaz Publications. (In Persian).
Afshar Kohan, J (2004), Sociological Rereading of Traditionalism and Modernism in Iran between the two Revolutions, Tehran: Avaye Noor. (In Persian).
Baalbaki, L (2010), I Live, Dar Al-Adab for Publishing and Distribution, Beirut: Lebanon, 1st Edition. (In Arabic).  Pirzad, Z (2004), we get used to it, Tehran: Central Publishing, first edition. (In Persian).
Jahanbeglu, R (1994), A Time for Humanity, 1st Edition, Tehran: Nei Publishing Center. (In Persian).
 Zarafa, M (2006), Sociology of Fiction, Translated by; Nasrin Parvini, Tehran: Sokhan Publications. (In Persian).
Shultz, (2005), Personality Theories, Translated by; Yahya Seyed Mohammadi, 19th Edition, Tehran: Virayesh Publications. (In Persian).
Azdanlou, H (2004), Getting to Know the Basic Concepts of Sociology, 1st Edition, Tehran: Ney Publications. (In Persian).
Alloush, Saeed, (1987), Schools of Comparative Literature: A Systematic Study, Arab Cultural Center. (In Arabic).
Ghani Pourmolek Shah, Ahmed, Qudsieh Rizvanian and Hossein Yahiinejad Azizi (2011). Dissertation "Tradition and its reflection in the gypsy novel by the fire (examination of traditions and how female characters act in front of them), scientific research journal of Persian language and literature, Islamic Azad University, Fasa branch. (In Persian)
Qasemzadeh, R, Farzi, H. and Dehghan, A. (2017), “The Sunnah and its Origins Among the People of Drowning, Moniro Ravani Pour”, Zaban and Persian Adab (former publication of Daneshkada Adabiyat Daneshgah Tabriz), Sal 70, Shamarat Series 235. (In Persian).
Goli, A; Mohammadi, F; Nazari, S. (2009). "The Narrative of Passing from Tradition to Modernity in Zoya Pirzad's Tale of Gas Kharmalavi's Taste", Baharestan Sokhan (Persian Literature Scientific-Research Quarterly), 6(16). (In Persian).
Giddens, A. (2001), Collection of Modernist Essays; Translated by; Hassanali Nozhari, Chap Sum, Tehran: Naqsh-e Jahan Publications. (In Persian).
Giddens, A. (2006), Renewal and Personalization, Translated by; Nasser Moufqian, Tehran: No Publications. (In Persian).
Giddens, Anthony, (2008) (alif), His word, Translated by; Mohsen Thalathi, Chap Chaharm, Tehran: Publishing Center. (In Persian).
Beck, U. Giddens, A. Lash, S (1994), Reflexive Modernization. Politics, Tradition and Aesthetics in the Modern Social Order, Stanford. (In English).
Beck, U., Giddens, A., Lash, S. (1994), Reflexive Modernization. Politics, Tradition and Aesthetics in the Modern Social Order, Stanford.
Research in Comparative Literature
Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 55
September 2024
Pages 25-48

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 01 December 2020
  • Revise Date: 11 January 2021
  • Accept Date: 12 January 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics