An Examination of the Discursive Signifiers of Anti-Despotism and Freedom-Seeking in the Poetry of Mohammad-Taqi Bahar and Their Correspondence with Katouzian’s Fourteen Components of Iranian Despotism

Abstract

The present study aims to examine the discursive signifiers of freedom-seeking and anti-despotism in the poetry of Mohammad-Taqi Bahar (Malek al-Sho‘ara Bahar), with particular emphasis on the theory of Iranian despotism. In modern Persian literature, whose point of departure is generally associated with the Constitutional-era literary movement, Bahar stands as one of the most influential and epoch-making poets. In an innovative manner, he addressed the emerging social and political concerns of Iranian society—including opposition to despotism, the pursuit of freedom, patriotism, and commitment to the rule of law—through traditional poetic forms such as the qasida, ghazal, tarkib-band, tarjī‘-band, musammat, and mustazad. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, this study examines Mohammad Ali Homayoun Katouzian’s theory of Iranian despotism, comprising fourteen components, in Bahar’s Divan. These components are analyzed for the first time through documentary analysis, lending originality and innovation to the study. The findings indicate that Bahar was a freedom-seeking, peace-oriented, patriotic, and anti-despotism intellectual who rejected despotic and authoritarian rulers and opposed foreign intervention in Iran’s domestic affairs. All these orientations are reflected in both the poetry and prose of his works. Given the high frequency of anti-despotic concepts and signifiers such as freedom, independence, homeland, peace, parliament, nation, and democracy, a close relationship is evident between Bahar’s poetry and his intellectual worldview. Having devoted part of his life to political activity and another substantial part to literary pursuits, his political and literary identities became deeply intertwined. Consequently, his commitment to freedom and opposition to despotism resonate throughout his verses and prose expressions.