Representation of Social Inequality in Parvīn E’tesāmī’s Poetry: A Semiotic Study

Abstract

The significance of Parvīn E’tesāmī’s poetry as a social satire, rendered in debates (munāzere) subordinated to ‘no authorial voice,’ has received insufficient treatment. The present study proposes to focus on the representation of social inequality in E’tesāmī’s debate poetry through an in-depth analysis of her most recurring signs. We will argue that her poetry is built upon an ‘opposition’ between various entities all personified, ‘signifying’ the conflict between the opposite social classes: the dominant vs. the subordinate. Six oppositions are examined in sections of “drunk and sober,” “jewel and tear,” “two drops of blood,” “wolf and dog,” “flower and thorn,” and “two courts.” In each poem, E’tesāmī exploits ‘classical’ Persian literary repertoire in a ‘topical’ context to criticize the corrupt ruling system for the deplorable conditions of her homeland. Despite their engagement with contemporary issues, E’tesāmī’s poems seem to function within a fatalistic framework, much of which being informed by Islamic scripture.