The analysis of the power struggle in the Shahnameh and Iliad from Foucault's point of view (with reliance on the Lohrasp dynasty and Priam dynasty)

Subject Areas : Comparative Literature Studies

zahra ghorbanipour ¹ , Dr.farhad tahmasbi ² , Dr.sara Zirak ³

1 - PhD student in Persian Language and Literature, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate professor of Persian Language and Literature Department, Islamshahr branch, Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature Department, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2020-11-08 Accepted : 2020-11-08 Published : 2020-11-21

Keywords: Discourse, Foucault, Priam, Power struggle, Lohrasp,

Abstract :

  From Foucault’s point of view, Power controls all mechanisms of social exchange. The types of power including Discursive, Bio and Disciplinary power (Genealogy) aims to monitor in detail the subject’s behavior. There are also different discourses in the time and periods that create conflict atmosphere and semantic disputes (Archeology). This study aims to understand the origins and creation of discourse power created with existence of the infrastructure, signifiers, and discursive functions and particularly power’s discourse in the two texts (the Lohrasp dynasty and Priam dynasty) through comparative analysis. A descriptive, analytical and comparative research method was adopted in analyzing that from the story of Lohrasp the dominant discourses discovered are religious-political, political and idealized king identities. This was further reinforced in the dominant discourses emerged in the Iliad including gods’ class, religious – political and cultural - national (family) identities. In conclusion religious - political identities emerged through high frequency signifiers namely as destiny and sacred which have an unifying identity and influence on the discourses’ identity of others. Goshtasp and Paris are the most powerful and knowledgeable characters in these dynasties who are not normalized by power and direct others ideas towards their beliefs.