Monsters and monstrosity in contemporary Persian literature: The case of Houshang Golshiri’s Hadis-e Māhīgir va Dīv

Abstract

This paper examines the evolving semantic representation of the “dīv” (monster) in Persian literature, tracing its transformation from classical depictions of malevolence to contemporary portrayals imbued with benevolence. The semantic turn is situated within the broader context of Western modernism’s influence during the Persian Constitutional Revolution, a period when Iranian writers actively sought to redefine cultural and literary paradigms by revisiting myth and mythological figures. Focusing on six contemporary Iranian authors, the study reveals how these writers reappropriate the figure of the monster to challenge established literary patterns and to articulate novel meanings distinct from its traditional evil connotations. Utilizing Emmanuel Levinas’s ethical framework—particularly his concepts of ‘face-to-face encounter,’ ‘vulnerability,’ ‘infinite responsibility,’ and ‘transcendental other’—this research offers an in-depth analysis of Golshiri’s Hadis-e Māhīgir va Dīv to illustrate the ethical dimensions underlying modern interpretations of monstrosity. The findings underscore a significant cultural shift in Persian literature, highlighting the dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity in the rearticulation of mythological narratives.