Representation of the Woman-Nature Bond in the Novel Bazgasht-e Hordad: An Ecofeminist Reading of the Discourse of Domination over Nature

Document Type : Persian Research Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Languages, University of Arak, Arak, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Languages, University of Arak, Arak, Iran.

Abstract

Fariba Kalhor's novel Bazgasht-e Hordad (The Return of Hordad) is a work that lends itself well to an ecofeminist reading, given its focus on the environmental crisis and the role of women in confronting it. Ecofeminism, by emphasizing the connection between the subjugation of women and the exploitation of nature, traces the roots of both to domination-oriented structures and underscores the need to rethink human-nature relationships. Employing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on key ecofeminist concepts, this study examines how the woman-nature relationship is represented in Bazgasht-e Hordad and how discourses related to the domination and protection of nature are reflected in the novel. The findings indicate that the author, through the use of mythological, fantastical, and symbolic elements, establishes a profound bond between women and nature, portraying female characters as protective and restorative forces for the environment. In contrast, the demonic forces in the story are depicted as agents of the discourse of domination, disrupting the ecological balance and threatening natural life. Overall, Bazgasht-e Hordad, by highlighting women's role in restoring natural equilibrium and confronting destructive forces, constructs a discourse in support of environmental protection and a critique of domination-based relationships with nature, while emphasizing the necessity of rethinking the human-environment relationship.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 April 2026
  • Revise Date: 20 May 2026
  • Accept Date: 22 May 2026
  • Publish Date: 05 June 2026

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