Document Type : Original Article
Authors
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Department of Persian Language and Literature, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
2
Full Professor Department of Persian Language and Literature, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
3
Associate Professor Department of Persian Language and Literature, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran
10.22126/rp.2025.12108.2106
Abstract
The anti-Communist novels of the 1950s (1330s Shamsi) constitute a lesser-known yet significant strand of modern Iranian fiction, emerging as a reaction to the growing influence of leftist ideology and the expansion of the Tudeh Party. This study focuses on three representative works—The Pseudo-Philosophers by Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, The Scourges of Paradise by Naser Khodayar, and Notes of a Dictator and Gita, the Gypsy Girl by Hedayatollah Hakim-elahi—to examine how anti-Communist discourse was constructed within Persian narrative prose of the decade. The central research question addresses which thematic and ideological components distinguish these novels from other contemporary literary genres, such as proletarian, localist, or colonial narratives, and how the authors employed fictional language to critique communist ideology and influence public opinion.
Employing a qualitative content analysis based on a thorough review of primary texts and relevant scholarly literature, the study identifies recurring motifs and narrative strategies. The findings reveal that these novels are characterized by a strong cautionary and propagandistic tone, a moral dichotomy between good and evil, the depiction of deception under the guise of workers’ advocacy, and the exposure of contradictions between ideological promises and practical realities in communist regimes. Collectively, these works reflect not merely political positioning but also a cultural effort to preserve religious and national identity in the face of foreign ideological influence. This research thus contributes to a deeper understanding of mid-twentieth-century Persian literature, highlighting the intersection of literary, ideological, and sociopolitical currents.
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