In a structural analysis, the “Rebellion & Decline” theme creates a narrative structure in which eleven stories of Shāhnāmeh – equal to 3.18 per cent of the whole Epic – are included, which makes it the tenth largest sequence of the Shāhnāmeh.
This narrative structure (sequence) consists of initial tranquillity, the king’s rebellion, his decline, and ultimate tranquillity. The epical theme of rebellion and decline is deeply rooted in the myth of the “original sin,” and displays a type of a powerful king. The most apparent historical manifestation of such a reign can be observed in the Sassanid period, which is perceptible from abundance of stories influenced from such a structure in the part of Ferdowsi’s Shāhnāmeh dealing with the Sassanid era.
Considering the spread and antiquity of the myth of “original sin,” as an effective myth in this sequence, we can consider this myth as an archetype, which appears in many stories of world nations’ literatures.
Key words: Shāhnāmeh, Structuralism, Sequence, Myth, Kingdom, Motif of Rebellion & Decline. |
