Critical Analysis of Discourse in the Novel “Shabhaye Bisetareh” Based on Norman Fairclough

Critical Analysis of Discourse in the Novel “Shabhaye Bisetareh” Based on Norman Fairclough
Extended abstract

Introduction

Discourses have a two-way relationship with society; On the one hand, the ruling powers of the society attempt to form discourses aligned with themselves, and on the other hand, the discourses shape society's thoughts in the process of their naturalization. The critical approach of discourse pays attention to the relationship between ideology and power in society structures, especially cultural structures. The most prominent branch in this approach is Norman Fairclough's critical analysis of discourse, which deals with three levels: 1- description of linguistic structures, 2- interpretation of the context and context of discourse production, 3- explanation of the relationship between power and discourse in the text.

Method

This research is based on the approach of critical discourse analysis by Norman Fairclough and in a descriptive-analytical way, relying on examples of the text.

Discussion

Every ideology, in its structure, feeds on assumptions and value systems that are individualized in a person or group. One of the approaches of discourse analysis is to examine the relationship between power and Dominant and defeated discourses. Among the naturalized discourses in all societies are misogynist discourses. In this novel, the dominant discourse, using its power that it has institutionalized in the structures of society, based on the attitude of absolute valuation and religious and traditional beliefs, it places women in a lower position than men and through this gender valuation, it deprives women of their authority over their destiny and makes them under the guardianship of men., and then by naturalizing this ideology, it limits and controls women in all structures of society, including the family. On the one hand, with critical questions, the narrator enters into a conversation with the dominant discourse and interacts with it, and on the other hand, he tries to change its inhibiting elements in favor of his own discourse.
The novel Shabhaye Bisetareh, which was written for teenagers, tries to make its audience think and ask questions in the face of this discourse. According to Fairclough's theory, the present research shows how anti-feminist elements flow in the heart of society and in the hidden layers of linguistic and social structures and how a teenager faces it.
The author portrays the opposition of the two traditional and anti-traditional discourses in linguistic constructions, including words, pronouns and verbs that are ideologically charged, in the statements of the characters attributed to both discourses. Also, the process of making titles, which leads to the superiority of men and the inferiority of women in the traditional view, is one of the challenges raised in this novel. One of the elements of language that shows the ideological function of discourses is the naming process that the author used in the title of the novel to express his desired goal. The interpretation of a very beautiful paradox (starless nights), which is the name of the narrator and the central character of the story, on the one hand refers to the traditional discourse on the removal of “stars” and on the other hand, a symbolic interpretation of the evolution and awareness of “stars” in reaching it is one's rights that is associated with an image of a rainy and starless night.
Using the war-torn atmosphere of the society, while showing the effort and ability of women to accompany men, the text shows one of the conflicts between these two approaches; Limiting a woman's role to the home and housekeeping is one of the common stereotypes in the traditional discourse governing the society in order to keep her away from social activities and as a result independence. The opposition and ridicule of the narrator's father to the activities of his wife and daughters outside the home, shows the devaluing of the role of women in social activities by the dominant discourse of the society, in contrast to the prominence of one of the figures of the tradition-breaking discourse -Mrs. Fahimi- in Roles such as the person in charge of the mosque base and his ability in martial training are an attempt that the text uses to neutralize the traditional attitude. The author also represents the reproduction of the traditional anti-feminist discourse by using several intertextualities that are suitable for the audience's age and questions it from the narrator's language. With the story of Khaleh Souske, it represents the historical position of Iranian women. Referring to the cartoon “Don Chuck Monogatari” is the author's attempt to break the society's sexist view and derogatory view of women and induce weakness, incapacity and fragility.
The author's references to the book “A Room of One's Own”, which is a historical example of women's efforts to achieve their human freedom and is indicated and represented in the words of the narrator, emphasizes the need for women's independence and tries to underline the objectification of women. He asks questions and makes his audience think. The author uses the story “The Ugly Duckling” to show the rejection of the narrator by his family due to the violation of anti-woman laws. Finally, the narrator reaches maturity and self-awareness in his challenges against these beliefs and crosses the barrier. slow This metatext symbolically portrays the narrator's differentness and rejection, who represents all women in his position. At the same time that the novel shows the critical and questioning view of the youth in the face of the ideology ruling the society, it has implicitly shown its support for the anti-traditional discourse.

Results

The obtained results show that language constructions in the dominant discourse are associated with a harsh and degrading tone towards women. The author has used the war-torn atmosphere of the society, where anti-women attitudes have been more intense, for his novel, which can be generalized to the current society as well, and shows the transition from traditional discourses that consider the position of men to be higher than women. It still faces many obstacles that make this transition slow and difficult. Since the ruling power strongly supports the anti-women discourse, the social structure, including the family, is at the service of this discourse, which causes domestic violence against women and their escape from the home environment. The extent and power of the dominant and traditional discourse in the structures of society is such that even women have made and accepted obedience to men as a moral behavior part of their belief. However, the novel did not intend to completely ignore the traditions and positive values of the society, rather it sought to modify the traditional attitude by challenging the traditional discourse.
Keywords: Critical Approach, Shabhaye Bisetareh, Fairclough, Anti-woman discourse
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