A Psychological Analysis of Female Characters in Contemporary Persian Novels with a Focus on Zoya Pirzad and Simin Daneshvar’s Works

Abstract

In contemporary Persian literature, female authors have focused on portraying multifaceted female characters, reflecting psychological and social dimensions. This study conducts a psychological analysis of female characters in the works of two prominent authors, Zoya Pirzad and Simin Daneshvar. Utilizing Jungian and Freudian theories, the paper examines how these characters navigate cultural and social challenges and how these challenges influence their identity and behavior. In Daneshvar’s Suvashun, the protagonist symbolizes Iranian women confronting historical and cultural struggles, crafting both a national and individual identity. Conversely, in Pirzad’s works, such as Things We Left Unsaid, female characters are depicted as mothers grappling with everyday crises. The findings reveal that both authors, through their creation of multi-dimensional and complex characters, have significantly contributed to the evolution of contemporary Persian literature.