A Comparative Study of the Main Characters in the Novel The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan and The Maqamat of Badiʿ al-Zaman al-Hamadhani
Keywords:
main character, The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan, The Maqamat of Badiʿ al-Zaman al-Hamadhani, Hajji Baba, Abu al-Fath IskandariAbstract
Characterization is the cornerstone of any narrative work, and understanding the characters—especially the protagonist, whether positive or negative—is key to grasping the depth and complexity of the story. This study focuses on the main character to compare and analyze two prominent literary works in Persian and Arabic literature from different historical periods and cultural contexts: Hajji Baba in The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan and Abu al-Fath Iskandari in The Maqamat of Badiʿ al-Zaman al-Hamadhani. Hajji Baba, driven by insatiable greed and desire for power and wealth, does not refrain from committing any immoral act to achieve his goals. Abu al-Fath Iskandari, the fluid and multifaceted protagonist of the Maqamat, transgresses ethical boundaries through his rhetorical skills and offers a subtle critique of the society of his time. The methodology of this study is descriptive-analytical with a comparative approach based on the French School. The findings reveal that the central structure of both works revolves around the actions and behaviors of weak and powerless characters. These figures are products of a society marked by poverty and misery, and they do not shy away from deceitful practices (such as identity alteration, begging, trickery, hypocrisy, and lying) to survive. However, there is a significant difference: while the Maqamat of Badiʿ al-Zaman al-Hamadhani centers not only on action but also on the protagonist’s eloquence and verbal skills, the novel The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan is primarily structured around the protagonist’s actions and behaviors.
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