The image of utopia in modern Persian poetry from 1941 to 1988

Abstract

This thesis explores the portrayal of utopia in modern Persian poetry between 1941 and 1988. The study begins by examining classical utopias in the Persian-speaking world and then delves into the transformations of utopias during the early modern period in Iran. It further investigates the influence of four significant events: the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941 during World War II, the August 1953 coup, the 1979 revolution, and the eight-year Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) on the representation of utopia in modern Persian poetry. Four prominent modern Persian poets are analysed in this study: Mehdi Akhāvan-sāles, Simin Behbahāni, Ahmad Shamlou, and Fereydun Moshiri. The first three poets pioneered new styles in Modern Persian poetry, while the last one is among the most-read poets of Iran.

The analysis reveals that the first three events had a profound impact on the literary nature of utopia and the conveyed themes. The political liberation that followed the occupation of Iran led to the prevalence of utopias with socialist themes in the poetry of these poets. However, with the 1953 coup and the ensuing atmosphere of despair and turmoil engulfing society, the poems shifted towards dystopian themes. Within this context, two approaches to dystopia emerged. Firstly, society was depicted as an unchangeable dystopia, reflecting the concept of the demise of utopia. Subsequently, a concept known as ‘loveable dystopia’ took shape, as the poets utilized the sense of spatial belonging to portray the dialectical tension between the dystopian environment and their emotional attachment to it.

As social activities intensified and the 1979 revolution approached, hopes for constructing a utopia were rekindled in the poets’ compositions. However, this hope fades away quickly. Despite expectations, the eight-year Iran-Iraq war did not have a significant influence on the utopian literature of this period. In their final utopian works, Shamlou and Akhavān-sāles go back to the portrayal of a dystopia from which there is no escape, while Behbahāni and Moshiri embraced a more optimistic stance. They presented their last utopian visions with hopes for their realization of a utopia in an unknown future.

Date of Award	29 Nov 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Saeed Talajooy (Supervisor)