A Psychological Discourse Analysis of Manijeh's Character in Ferdowsi's Shahnameh: The Story of Bizhan and Manijeh

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Student of Kurdistan University

2 Master's degree holder in Persian Language and Literature from Allameh Tabataba'i University.

10.22034/lda.2025.143345.1038

Abstract

The story of Bizhan and Manijeh in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh portrays Manijeh as a complex and progressive figure in Persian epic literature, one who redefines the boundaries of feminine identity by transgressing gendered and social norms. This study adopts a psycho-analytical approach, grounded in existentialist theory (Sartre) and emotional resilience (Seligman), to explore the evolution of Manijeh’s identity as she navigates three pivotal axes: love, power, and social ostracization.

By consciously choosing to love Bizhan—a decision starkly opposed to her tribal and familial teachings—Manijeh radically ruptures her imposed identity. This revolutionary act not only triggers her severe rejection by Turan society but also becomes a catalyst for reconstructing her individual identity. Confronting the anguish of isolation and humiliation, she transforms pain into a driving force, achieving psychological resilience. Through her active role in rescuing Bizhan, she crafts a new language of love that transcends feminine stereotypes.

An analysis of Manijeh and Bizhan’s emotional dynamic reveals her not as a passive savior, but as an agent who aids Bizhan’s psychological reconstruction by bolstering his self-efficacy and reshaping his mental paradigms. Manijeh’s defiance of patriarchal structures renders her a symbol of feminine agency, one who, even in the darkest circumstances, relies on her willpower and inner values to traverse the geographical and psychological boundaries of her mythic society.
Her journey epitomizes how existential choice and emotional fortitude can dismantle oppressive frameworks, offering a timeless narrative of identity, resistance, and self-creation in the face of systemic marginalization.

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