The Special Work of Literary Realism in the Representation of Human Life in the War-torn Land, Based on the Novel Zamin-e Sukhte

When the people of a country are attacked by an enemy, the invasion by the aggressor can have profound effects on the life, economy, history, culture, and even literature of the defending nation. In such circumstances, literature, with a sense of commitment and the intention to fulfill its role, plays a crucial part in representing the events and realities of a war-torn society. To accomplish this duty, literature examines and directly or indirectly describes the incidents and harmful effects of war and its various psychological, social, economic, and cultural consequences in the society. Unlike other literary trends and schools, realistic literature is limited and exclusive to re-creating and retelling reality. Realist writers try to narrate events as they occur, presenting them in a report and exactly as they happen - without passing the bitter, sweet, harsh, or gentle aspects through a specific lens or perspective. The realist writer's view of the battlefield is distinct from ideological, mystical, or spiritual perspectives; therefore, it does not distort reality or embellish events, avoiding exaggeration that renders the facts surreal. They believe that in depicting the reality of war and reflecting on events, one should refrain from exaggeration, otherworldly viewpoints, and myth-making, representing the truth as it is or is happening. Ahmad Mahmood (Ataa), a prominent writer from the South Country's storytelling tradition, is recognized as one of the leading contemporary authors. He employs realism and localization in his works, highlighting the elements of his environment. This research focuses on the study of Zamin-e Sukhte, which emphasizes the role of realism in representing human life. As an eyewitness narrator, the author recounts the suffering caused by urban warfare and the damage inflicted on both human lives and economic foundations, which he has witnessed firsthand. In this novel, he illustrates the material and spiritual toll of the enemy's attack on the city of Ahvaz and its residents, revealing the harsh realities of war. He vividly depicts the destructive effects of bombings, the extensive devastation, and the resulting casualties, injuries, and suffering experienced during the first three months of the imposed war.
Introduction:
Literature serves as a reflection of a nation's thoughts and culture, and it is undeniable that one of the most profound ways to understand the spirit of any country is through its literature. This body of work is, in fact, the product of literary creativity that has developed and evolved within the social and cultural context of its time. Undoubtedly, any war aimed at invading a country, with the tragic consequences of innocent lives lost, land destruction, and the plundering of national assets, cannot be deemed sacred or commendable. However, the act of defending one's borders, life, property, and honor against an invading enemy is both commendable and a source of pride for nations around the world. The reflection of freedom-seeking and oppressed movements of nations in bondage and colonization in literary works is significant. In recent decades, literature related to sacred defense has emerged, focusing on the Iran-Iraq War and the events of that era. A forward-looking study examines the role of literary realism and native realism in one of Ahmad Mahmoud’s works, which represents the southern school of fiction writing. The central concern of the writers was the role of realism in conveying the harsh realities of war from the perspective of an impartial observer, free from any bias in representation or interpretation. The re-examination of the novel of native realism was prompted by the author's articulation of his mission to report events truthfully, reflecting his commitment as a realistic or native realist writer. When the narration of wartime events is approached from a realistic and humanistic standpoint, it dispels spiritual interpretations and transcendental notions, revealing the stark truth and the grim reality of war to all. A truth-seeking individual and a realistic writer are acutely aware of their own predicaments, having been ensnared in an unequal conflict and subjected to the relentless onslaught of enemy bombs, missiles, and gunfire. They witness the indiscriminate and brutal massacre of innocent, defenseless civilians during the siege of their city, feeling the unhealed wounds of displacement and the devastation of homes upon their inhabitants. This awareness encompasses the destruction of the hopes and dreams of their generation. Ahmad Mahmoud, a writer hailing from the cherished southern front, endured the ravages of war from its inception until its conclusion, forever remaining a guardian of his beloved youth. As a narrator, witness, and observer, Ahmad Mahmoud employs his realism to create the most authentic reconstructions by vividly depicting urban warfare in the events and incidents of the war's early days. We are after showing how native realism has affected the expression of the realities of the eight-year war in Khuzestan with the study of Zamin-e Suxte and measuring the success of the writer in expressing the impartiality of the war’s misfortunes.
Methodology:
One of the prominent literary schools for analyzing contemporary novels is realism, along with its sub-branch, native realism. This approach has been employed in the study and analysis of Ahmad Mahmoud’s novel Zamin-e Sukhte. After conducting a thorough examination of the novel and identifying the method for analyzing its content, we extracted the principles of realism and native realism. Based on these principles, we analyzed the components that align with them, using examples and evidence from the text of the novel. Ultimately, this process led us to uncover the main theme of realism in the selected work.
Results and Discussion:
In war fiction literature, there are two primary approaches: one presents a mystical and idealistic view of war, while the other portrays war as a source of human suffering and adversity from a realistic perspective. The works of authors in the latter category depict the more horrific and tragic aspects of war, showcasing the suffering and fear experienced by ordinary people during air raids, the inevitability of death, the relentless cycle of anxiety, migration, the disintegration of families, and the loss of loved ones are shown in before everyone's eyes. In fact, the most important topics of war fiction literature are martyrdom, veteran affairs, displacement, captivity, migration, bombing, etc. By examining Ahmad Mahmoud’s Zamin-e Sukhte based on the anti-war components presented, this novel can be classified as a realistic and anti-war work since Ahmad Mahmoud describes the events of the war in a documentary style, and the novel’s characters and people who are still involved in the issues related to the revolution are caught off guard by the enemy army’s entry into Iran and their deployment on the border and near the city of Ahvaz; the rumor of war among the people becomes a reality with the bombing of the airport. In these circumstances, due to the people and the government’s unpreparedness, it takes time to accept and cope with the tragedy of war, and the novel also deals with the early days of the war and the people’s involvement in the issues of the beginning of the war, and in these circumstances, it is common for the world to be negligent away from the war. Ahmad Mahmoud also laments the indifference of the people and the government away from the crisis, and he has written the story for this reason. The novel realistically portrays the ugliness and filth of war. War-torn people are harmed by both the enemy and fellow citizens who are traitors or profiteers thinking of looting national assets, making it even more difficult for defenseless people.
Conclusion:
In Zamin-e Sukhte, each character embodies a specific type of society, particularly one embroiled in war, which Mahmoud depicts with stark realism and grimness. Even among the anti-war elements presented, there are characters whose behaviors and actions align with these themes. Kal Shaban symbolizes the profiteers who, during the war, seek to exploit the situation through price gouging and food hoarding. Rezi Jib Bar and Ahmad Fari represent individuals who loot abandoned homes. The Narges family illustrates a household that, due to the disappearance of its patriarch, endures poverty and hunger, leading to the disintegration of its foundation. Mohammad Mechanic epitomizes patriotic citizens, while Baran symbolizes a warrior who is martyred, among others. In general, the society that Ahmad Mahmoud depicts serves as a microcosm of Iran’s society during that period. The role of native realism is to portray the realities of a specific geographical area and environment from which the writer originates or in which they write, as well as the context in which the events of the novel unfold. Consequently, the novel Zamin-e Sukhte, which addresses the harsh realities of war, is classified as a realistic and anti-war work. The narrative fundamentally rejects the notion of war, revealing its grim aspects through heartbreaking scenes that illustrate the plight of the dead and wounded, the destruction and adverse consequences of conflict, and the misfortunes and challenges it creates. Ultimately, the work condemns both the Taliban and war profiteers.