Analysis of the Actions of the Characters in A Stone on a Grave by Jalal Al-e Ahmad Based on the Theory of Pierre Bourdieu

Abstract

This study analyzes the novel A Stone on a Grave by Jalal Al-e Ahmad from the perspective of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of action, with the aim of identifying and explaining the actions of the characters—particularly Jalal and Simin Daneshvar—across three primary fields: the familial-literary field, the socio-cultural field, and the medical field. In this analysis, the concepts of field, capital, and habitus are employed as key analytical tools to understand the behavior and fate of the characters. The main research question is: how do fields and forms of capital influence the actions and destinies of the characters? The research method is qualitative, descriptive-analytical, utilizing library resources and textual analysis of the novel, reflecting a deep cultural-literary interpretive approach. The findings indicate that this narrative extends beyond a personal confession of infertility and symbolically reveals the effects of symbolic violence, social pressures, and the reproduction of power within various institutional structures. Power within these fields is concentrated in the hands of dominant groups who, due to their substantial economic resources, perpetuate injustice against subordinate groups and employ symbolic violence to maintain their dominance. Consequently, this domination and injustice across economic, social, and medical spheres have led to anomalies and ethical inequalities that are prevalent among different social strata, including the elite and the medical community.