نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
Saadi Shirazi is considered as one of the most comprehensive masters of Persian literature, whose eloquence and command of literary sciences made his speech unrivaled among his contemporaries. According to scholarly research, Saadi’s works are not limited merely to didactic and lyrical themes; rather, it appears that, under the influence of Shahnameh, he also drew upon epic motifs in his writings. Moreover, through his long journeys across various places, Saadi gained substantial experiential knowledge of the people of his time, the historical and social circumstances, and the cultural currents of his age. All these characteristics have led to Saadi being perceived, through the mirror of his legacy, as a representative of the diverse cultural and sociological dimensions of Iran—and even of other nations. The concept of ayyāri (chivalric fellowship), whether in its positive aspect (the generous and self-sacrificing young hero) or negative aspect (the thief or bandit), as a social movement, a mystical approach, or a quasi-military organization, is one of the longstanding and significant themes in Iran’s cultural and social discourse, particularly during Saadi’s era. The Mongol invasions and the ensuing turmoil provided fertile ground for the active and prominent emergence of this ethical fraternity in defense of the lower classes. As a reform-minded man of letters, Saadi was undoubtedly not indifferent to the presence of the ayyārs and the realization of chivalric ideals in society. Indeed, there are indications that he may have felt an affinity toward them or at least may have been associated with, or even a member of, such a group. However, it remains to be examined whether the didactic dimension of Saadi’s discourse which does not appear to have a direct connection with the unexpectedly frequent presence of ayyārs and their epic customs—can substantiate the claim of his affiliation or connection with them. The present descriptive-analytical study, employing an inductive method and drawing upon numerous intra-textual evidences from Saadi’s works, seeks to evaluate the plausibility of this hypothesis, with particular emphasis on Bustan and Golestan.
کلیدواژهها English
