Sociological analysis of the novel Cloudy Years based on Erich Kähler's theory
Subject Areas : Research in Iranian classical literature
akbar shamloo
1
,
yahya ataei
2
,
fateme zamanian
3
1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Payam Noor University, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, Payam Noor University, Iran.
3 - M.A in Persian literature, Payam Noor University, Iran.
Keywords: Sociological analysis, Novel, Cloudy Years, Ali Ashraf Darvishian, Erish Kähler.,
Abstract :
The purpose of this research is a sociological analysis of the novel "Cloudy Years" based on the theory of "Erich Kähler". This novel is about the author's life and community experiences. Using the descriptive-analytical method, we have analyzed the novel to explain the lower social classes, including the social and political situation of the society of that period, which is comparable to the Pahlavi government. This work shows the bad economic situation, the beginning of industrialization, and the growth of the bourgeoisie and changes without context. Darvishian believes that the source of social unrest is the growth of capitalism, and the economic system is the cause of poverty and corruption. The content of the novel is poverty, unemployment, poor health status, death, family disputes, hard work of children and women, class conflict, belief in superstitions, and determinism. According to Kähler 's theory, the creation of any literary genre takes from the realities of the writer's time and follows four basic variables: The historical situation, the writer's belonging to a class, the writer's personality and cultural upbringing, and the writer's special literary genre. Therefore, in the sociological analysis of this novel based on these variables, we first explained the meaning of each variable and finally extracted and analyzed some of the most important indicators of the novel.
Keywords: Sociological analysis, Novel, Cloudy Years, Ali Ashraf Darvishian, Erish Kähler.
Introduction
In this article, the novel “Cloudy Years” by Ali-Ashraf Darvishian is analyzed from a sociological perspective using Erich Kohler’s theory. This study focuses on the content of the work and the author’s viewpoint rather than merely its literary structure. The novel “Cloudy Years,” one of the prominent works in contemporary Persian literature, provides a critical depiction of the social, economic, political, and cultural situation in Iran during the second Pahlavi era. To achieve a clearer understanding of this novel and the author’s perspective, it is analyzed concerning the four main factors of Kohler’s theory, which include historical conditions, the author’s class consciousness, cultural upbringing, and the chosen literary type. The novel, structured as a four-volume narrative, reflects the personal experiences of the author, critiquing poverty, injustice, and oppression in society. This novel employs a simple and fluent language that blends local dialect and formal Persian, focusing on issues such as poverty, unemployment, poor health conditions, and child and women labor. In the section on historical conditions, the author describes the social, economic, and political conditions of that era, emphasizing the impact of these factors on characters and events. One of the most significant aspects of the novel is its impactful descriptions of poverty and unemployment in society. Poverty serves as a central theme for many characters and events in the story, and the author utilizes specific phrases and words to illustrate the depth of poverty. Unemployment is portrayed as a pervasive problem affecting workers and families, and its negative impact on their livelihoods is depicted. Additionally, the inadequate health conditions of society and the prevalence of various diseases among the population are other subjects of the author’s concern. Women and children also work under harsh and exhausting conditions, often facing numerous challenges to meet their basic needs and those of their families. Ultimately, this novel presents a realistic and critical image of society during that period, exploring various dimensions of social and economic problems in depth. This article analyzes the social, cultural, and political conditions of that era as derived from the author’s observations. The main axes include economic problems, class conflict, superstitions, and popular beliefs, and the impact of these factors on people’s lives, particularly workers and the underprivileged.
Social Conditions
Poverty and Deprivation
One of the most important themes depicted in the novel is economic poverty and the inability of people to meet their basic life needs. The characters in the story often live in harsh and unfavorable conditions, and the author illustrates these realities, conveying the ugliness and bitterness of poverty. This poverty has destructive effects on people’s lives, including the inability to access adequate treatment, leading to numerous deaths in the narrative. For example, the death of Sediqe, Narges-Khanom’s daughter, due to a lack of healthcare facilities, is one such instance.
Excessive Imports of Foreign Goods
The author refers to the excessive import of foreign goods, which has led to the closure of local businesses and increased pressure on the working class and the underprivileged. In this context, businesses like Baba-Safdar’s Glassmaking also feel the impact, resulting in their closure.
Class Conflict
The novel addresses the conflict between social classes, particularly the underprivileged and the wealthy, illustrating this through descriptions of the unjust behaviors of capitalists and their exploitation of workers. The wealth of capitalists is often acquired through unethical and unjust means; for example, Haji Motazed has become wealthy through the exploitation of animals.
Strict School Regulations and Low Educational Coverage Rate
The novel refers to the strict regulations that exist in schools and the low educational coverage rate among students. These regulations have led to an increase in dropout rates and a rise in illiteracy in society.
Cultural Conditions
Popular Beliefs and Superstitions
Superstitions play a significant role in the story, and the author elaborately depicts the popular beliefs among people who believe in mythical creatures like “Al” and “Jinn.” People justify many events in their lives through superstitions. For instance, a Jew exploits the superstitions of Sharif’s father and deceives him into leaving his house.
Mixing Religion with Superstitions
One of the important issues raised by the author is the mixing of religion with superstitions. Due to ignorance and a lack of deep understanding of religion, people turn to superstitious beliefs and trust those who write charms. Examples of this theme can be seen in the behaviors of Bibi and her beliefs regarding religious sanctities.
Determinism and Belief in Fate
Determinism and the belief in fate is another topic addressed in the novel. Many characters attribute all their problems to destiny and fate instead of striving to change their circumstances. This mindset serves as a justification for their poverty and deprivation, as illustrated in the story of Nazka’s marriage to Cheshmeh, which stems from determinism.
Kindness, Generosity, and Empathy
Despite poverty and difficulties, the author highlights certain human and ethical values such as kindness and generosity among the characters. These individuals, even amidst economic hardships, strive to assist others, as demonstrated by Bibi’s act of giving soup to the poor.
Political Conditions
Political Struggles
The novel is set against the backdrop of Mohammad Reza Shah’s rule and is profoundly influenced by the political conditions of that era. The narrative addresses the political struggles of various groups opposing the Pahlavi government, discussing political oppression, the suppression of dissenters, and the effects of this situation on people’s lives. Sharif, the main character of the story, becomes acquainted with political circles and eventually joins the Tudeh Party. Throughout his struggles, he associates with various individuals like Daei Salim, Akbar Agha, and Agha Morteza, ultimately facing imprisonment multiple times due to his political activities.
Sharif’s Activities
Sharif engages in teaching at a school and encounters local lords such as Jahangir Khan and Ekram Khan, who govern people with oppression and tyranny. Due to his resistance against oppression, he faces threats and harassment multiple times. Ultimately, Sharif endures severe torture in the prisons of the Pahlavi regime but continues to fight. He even contemplates suicide but, recalling the sufferings of the people dismisses this thought and continues his struggle. After eleven years in prison, he was finally released during the surge of popular movements in 1979.
The Author’s Class Affiliation and Class Consciousness
The author, Ali-Ashraf Darvishian, hails from the working class and has written “Cloudy Years” with a focus on the issues and problems faced by the working class. By accurately portraying the daily lives of workers and the underprivileged, he illustrates their worldviews and struggles. Drawing from his personal experiences, Darvishian reflects on the struggles of the working class and intellectuals within this novel, highlighting their roles in social and political transformations.
Class Consciousness
The author clearly illustrates how class consciousness develops among the characters in the story, particularly Sharif, and how this awareness leads to political and social struggles. Sharif, who originates from the working class, gradually transforms into an intellectual and, alongside other socialist fighters, confronts oppression and tyranny.
The Character and Cultural Development of the Author
Darvishian was born into a poor working-class family and has been familiar with the poverty and struggles of the lower classes since childhood. These experiences led him to gravitate toward writing and political and social activism. His acquaintance with individuals like Jalal Al-e Ahmad and Samad Behrangi significantly influenced his thoughts and activities. By focusing on leftist and socialist themes in his stories, Darvishian addresses the issues and problems of the lower classes and plays an important role in reflecting their struggles in Iranian literature.
Conclusion
The novel “Cloudy Years” provides a profound reflection of the social, cultural, and political conditions during the Pahlavi era. The author, by focusing on the lives of workers and the lower classes, analyzes social and class conflicts, depicting their impacts on people’s lives. This study first examined the criteria of Erich Kohler and the associated indicators. The simple, friendly, and conversational tone in Darvishian’s works does not adhere to conventional narrative techniques. His primary goal is to reflect the suffering and hopes of oppressed people, prioritizing social and political issues in society, such as poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, and superstitions. This novel portrays the struggle between tradition and modernity within the historical, social, and political context of Kermanshah in the 1930s and 1940s. Darvishian has protested against censorship, believing that an author must stand freely against injustice and corruption as the awakened conscience of society. He dreams of a society free from social issues. Due to its rich content, this novel is capable of analysis through various human science approaches such as psychology, anthropology, and political science, and can be studied interdisciplinary.
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