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Department of Persian Language and Literature, Islamic Azad University Arak Branch, Arak, Iran , Sh_Hekmat@gmail.com
Abstract: (17 Views)
Background: Sa’di’s Golestan, as a masterpiece of didactic Persian literature, has consistently been examined from various perspectives. However, despite the significance of archetypes in Jungian analytical psychology for understanding the deeper layers of literary texts, the position and function of the “Anima” archetype in the prose tales of this work have been largely overlooked. This study was conducted to fill this research gap and to offer a novel perspective in this field.
Aims: The present study aimed to analyze the Anima in Sa’di’s Golestan based on Jungian analytical psychology.
Methods: This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method based on qualitative content analysis. Data were collected through library research and by the direct examination of selected tales from Golestan in which traces of the Anima are evident. The collected data were then analyzed according to the theoretical principles of Jungian analytical psychology.
Results: The findings indicate that the Anima in Golestan is not merely a feminine image but a dynamic psychological force with two contradictory facets. On one hand, in its negative aspect, it appears as a seductive and destructive force that leads characters into an abyss of psychological collapse (the negative Anima). On the other hand, in its positive aspect, it acts as a source of inspiration, self-sacrifice, and a guide toward psychological wholeness and individuation (the positive Anima). This study also revealed that the conflict between this unconscious force and conscious structures (such as reason and piety) is a central psychological theme in the tales, and that the manifestation of the Anima is not limited to human characters but is also reflected in natural symbols (such as water and the garden).
Conclusion: It is concluded that analyzing Golestan from the perspective of the Anima archetype adds a new, psychological dimension to Sa’di’s didactic tales. This approach demonstrates that Sa’di was not only a sage and a moral teacher but also a depth psychologist who was well aware of the influence of unconscious forces on human destiny. By revealing this hidden layer in Sa’di’s prose, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of characterization in this literary masterpiece.
Aims: The present study aimed to analyze the Anima in Sa’di’s Golestan based on Jungian analytical psychology.
Methods: This research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method based on qualitative content analysis. Data were collected through library research and by the direct examination of selected tales from Golestan in which traces of the Anima are evident. The collected data were then analyzed according to the theoretical principles of Jungian analytical psychology.
Results: The findings indicate that the Anima in Golestan is not merely a feminine image but a dynamic psychological force with two contradictory facets. On one hand, in its negative aspect, it appears as a seductive and destructive force that leads characters into an abyss of psychological collapse (the negative Anima). On the other hand, in its positive aspect, it acts as a source of inspiration, self-sacrifice, and a guide toward psychological wholeness and individuation (the positive Anima). This study also revealed that the conflict between this unconscious force and conscious structures (such as reason and piety) is a central psychological theme in the tales, and that the manifestation of the Anima is not limited to human characters but is also reflected in natural symbols (such as water and the garden).
Conclusion: It is concluded that analyzing Golestan from the perspective of the Anima archetype adds a new, psychological dimension to Sa’di’s didactic tales. This approach demonstrates that Sa’di was not only a sage and a moral teacher but also a depth psychologist who was well aware of the influence of unconscious forces on human destiny. By revealing this hidden layer in Sa’di’s prose, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of characterization in this literary masterpiece.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/06/28 | Accepted: 2025/09/1 | Published: 2026/03/21
Received: 2025/06/28 | Accepted: 2025/09/1 | Published: 2026/03/21
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) License. |
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)