Analysis of Power in the Myth-Oriented Poems of Mohammad-Taqi Bahar (Based on Michel Foucault’s Theories)

Abstract

The concept of power is one of the most fundamental notions that has been the subject of extensive research regarding its mechanisms and manifestations in society. Michel Foucault’s theories form the core of the discourse of power, encompassing various domains of sociology. From a Foucauldian perspective, every discourse or text is intricately and inseparably intertwined with power relations within a given social space. In fact, Foucault considers all forms of discourse to be inherently oriented toward latent power. The present study seeks, through a descriptive–analytical method, to understand the Foucauldian conception of power as reflected in the myth-oriented poems of Mohammad-Taqi Bahar. By examining Bahar’s poetry and selecting his mythological verses, one can discern his leftist, critical, and patriotic ideas embedded within his poetic expression. A sociological reading of these poems reveals that most of Bahar’s myth-oriented works bear traces of Foucault’s concept of power. Through nostalgic and reflective references to the grandeur and authority of ancient myths, the poet subtly portrays the political atmosphere of his own time with a critical outlook.