|
Abstract
|
Arash, the famous Archer and mythical-historical hero, is a significant absentee from Persian classical poetry, especially Shahnameh. However, in contemporary times, several poets and writers, including Bahram Beyzai, have adopted Arash's narrative. Beyzai creates the most distinctive version of this narrative by offering a modern approach and deconstructing the original narrative. Beyzai's Arash is not the renowned hero and archer but rather a stableman who transforms into a hero without any metaphysical support or physical strength, just by relying on the power of mind and heart. The present study examines the distinctive characteristics of the hero in Beyzai's narrative and, based on Lacan's psychoanalytic theory, analyzes the transformation of Arash from a stableman to a hero. The results show that the most critical differences between Arash in Beyzai's work and the original narrative are: the lack of support from divine forces, lack of extraordinary physical abilities, emphasis on an inner journey rather than an external one, and the focus on the power of heart and mind instead of physical strength. Studying the transformation of Arash's personality based on Lacan's theory shows two stages: the first is Arash's confrontation with the big Other, which separates him from his initial unified perception of the world and turns him into an alienated and split subject. The second and main stage is Arash's victory over the big Other during his symbolic ascent to Mount Alborz. This conquest enables Arash to break through the 'symbolic order' and attain the superior knowledge and power of a hero.
|