Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• abdollah vaceghabbasi ¹
• shahryar shahraki ²
• jalaloddin gorgij ³

¹ Faculty member of the Persian Literature Department, University of Sistan and Baluchestan

² Educational officer and lecturer at Farhangian University, Zahedan Branch

³ Visiting Lecturer, Farhangian University, Zahedan Branch

Abstract

The characters of Goudarz Gashvadegan and Piran Viseh in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh are two prominent figures from the opposing fronts of Iran and Turan. Despite their differing fates, they share striking similarities in their political standing, personality traits, wisdom, prudence, and social roles. This article aims to conduct a comparative analysis of these two characters within the framework of Carl Gustav Jung's analytical psychology theory, examining the reflection of the "Wise Old Man" archetype in the narrative structure of the Shahnameh. The main research question is how Ferdowsi, through these two characters, represents the Wise Old Man archetype in both its benevolent and malevolent aspects, and what psychological and ethical message emerges from this dichotomy.
The research method employed in this article is descriptive-analytical, based on the textual analysis of literary works and analytical psychology sources. The findings indicate that both Goudarz and Piran manifest the Wise Old Man archetype: Goudarz on the side of light and righteousness, and Piran on the side of darkness and doubt. This duality reflects the structure of the human psyche and the conflict between the conscience and the shadow in the collective unconscious. By utilizing this archetype, Ferdowsi not only enriches the epic quality of his work but also recreates profound psychological concepts within a mythical and narrative framework.

Keywords

• "Shahnameh"
• "Goudarz"
• "Piran Viseh"
• "Jungian psychology"
• "Archetype"
• "Wise Old Man"

Main Subjects

• حماسه و اسطوره