The Similarities of Sadegh Chubak’ Naturalism with Schopenhauer’s Views

The alignment and similarity between Chubak's deterministic approach to naturalism—based on human submission to natural and social forces—and Schopenhauer’s theories about human will and suffering represent a significant issue that literary research seeks to explore. Schopenhauer asserts that the deterministic laws of nature have a self-contradictory effect, which he calls the He highlights the similarities between the actions of nature and humans, grounded in the identity of human will and temperament. Schopenhauer believes that humans are trapped in endless failure and suffering, a theme also evident in Chubak's works. We examined these parallels using a descriptive and analytical method. The findings of this research demonstrate a clear similarity between Schopenhauer's perspective and the doctrine of naturalism. Thus, the naturalistic framework in Chubak's works aligns with Schopenhauer's view that nature and its disasters manifest human captivity to the will. Social oppression, rooted in selfish motivations, reflects the internal conflict of human will. Humans lack the will to resolve these constraints and are bound by stimuli and instincts, which inevitably lead to failure, with death as the only ultimate end.
Introduction:
Schopenhauer's reflections on the "will" and human suffering closely parallel Chubak's naturalism. In Chubak's stories, humans are depicted as powerless, lacking free will, and dominated by natural and social forces that continually oppress them. Sadegh Chubak is a prominent figure in modern Iranian fiction. What distinguishes him is his unique style and vivid imagery, particularly his dedication to naturalism. In his works, natural and social determinism take precedence over biological determinism. Hence, he depicts humans as trapped between natural and social forces, a key point for comparing his themes with Schopenhauer’s theories. The goal is not to prove or disprove Schopenhauer but to explore common ground between his ideas and Chubak’s naturalism. This study demonstrates how applying Schopenhauer’s views to Chubak’s notable works, as a major naturalistic writer, allows for a new interpretation. While Schopenhauer’s influence on Chubak cannot be confirmed, analyzing his theories in light of Chubak’s determinism opens a path to uncover deeper meanings in his stories.
Methodology:
This descriptive-analytical study seeks to explore the shared elements between the views of Schopenhauer, a Western philosopher, and the literary school of naturalism. It also investigates how a new interpretation grounded in naturalistic principles can be achieved by applying Schopenhauer’s views to Chubak’s works. Initially, Schopenhauer’s thoughts and naturalist principles are outlined. Then, by examining their parallels, the alignment of deterministic patterns in Chubak’s major stories with Schopenhauer’s ideas is demonstrated. Notably, no prior independent research has examined this comparison, distinguishing the present study from other works on Chubak.
Results and Discussion:
In naturalism, natural determinism acts as a force that confines individuals. From a Schopenhauerian perspective, this is evident in Chubak’s stories through destructive elements such as rain, storms, and earthquakes, which serve solely to impose suffering. Their recurrence elevates these elements to symbolic image clusters. One such cluster, the “doll,” represents humans as wax or clay figures, highlighting Chubak’s visual style and his depiction of characters as powerless to change their fate. In his stories, nature and society jointly exploit individuals, a phenomenon Schopenhauer attributes to the identical will shared by humans and nature. The foundation of social subjugation is selfishness, which is often evident in Chubak’s portrayal of women and vulnerable individuals. The symbols of Cage” and “chain” are recurring symbols in Chubak’s naturalist texts.
The story titled  “The Cage”  metaphorically captures social determinism, illustrating the dominance of oppressors over the weak. Humans appear as puppets, confined by deterministic conditions and their own intense will, ultimately leading to failure. This failure deepens their awareness of death, which is often preferred to their forced existence. In Schopenhauer’s pessimistic worldview, life is filled with endless suffering and this is a theme frequently reflected in Chubak’s fiction. His characters lack free will, often addicted, and act on instinct. They are ruled by external and internal forces and bound to a sorrowful, predetermined fate. Similarly, they argue that all human actions are driven by a chain of motives. He also viewed love as a mere sexual impulse a deception of the will, which is a concept echoed in Chubak’s characters. Schopenhauer believed that nature embodies the will to live; therefore, humans too are subject to this natural determinism. In Chubak’s fiction, the will to life triggers selfishness, leading to inner conflict, oppression, and competition for dominance.
Conclusion:
According to Chubak’s naturalistic outlook, which is grounded in environmental and social determinism, humans are puppets acting out predetermined roles. Their fate, after enduring suffering, culminates in death, a theme reflected repeatedly through imagery of death in his works. Similarly, Schopenhauer argued that all natural forces are expressions of a single blind will, manifesting through deterministic laws. Recurrent images of “rains,” “storms,” and “earthquakes” in Chubak’s stories embody this concept. Human beings visibly demonstrate the negation of the will through acts of oppression and the domination of the weak, resulting in unfulfilled lives symbolized by chains and cages. The parallel between natural phenomena and human actions reflects the shared essence of will in both. Caught between external and internal determinisms, Chubak’s characters are driven by instinct and addiction, with their desires remaining unfulfilled due to the conflict between longing and will. The intensity of this longing, as a deception of the will to live, leads to suffering so profound that death becomes the only escape. Although there is no definitive evidence of Schopenhauer’s direct influence on Chubak, strong conceptual parallels between the philosopher’s theories and Chubak’s thematic frameworks are clearly evident.
Ethical Considerations
This research involved no human or animal subjects and required no ethical clearance.
Funding
This study received no external funding and was carried out at the authors’ personal expense.
Conflict of interest
None declared.