Historical and sociological analysis of the concept of freedom in the thought and poetry of Ahmad Shamloo By applying Laclau's discourse theory and Chantal Mouf

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Kaveh Abbassi 1
Farhad Tahmasbi 2
Jalil Tajlil 1
Abdolhosein Farzad 3
1 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Science and Research Branch, Tehran
2 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Islamshahr Branch
3 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch
10.22034/jcsc.2020.122284.2101
Abstract
Based on the Discourse Theory Ahmad Shamlou should be taken as a political, historical and literal phenomena. The theoretical basis of this article comes from a synthesis of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe and Quentin Skinner's ideas. Based on the Discourse Theory 'Subjects' are 'Political'. This article distinguishes between the 'Ontic' and 'Ontological' level of the analysis and methodologically has seen Ahmad Shamlou's writings at 'Macro Level'. Drawn on the discourse theory I have tried to analyze Ahamad Shamlou's life and ideas in its political and historical context. The central idea and research strategy of this article, drawn on the Discourse Theory, is that I have first taken one or two central concepts from Ahmad Shamlou's writings and second I have suggested one central concepts that I believe it was the main demand of Iranian society for almost a century which is the concept of freedom. Then I have related these two methodologically. I have called Ahamd Shamlou the Poet of Freedom. I believe without the concept of freedom and without reading of Iranian political history understanding of Ahmad Shamlou is very difficult, if not impossible. This article then believes that Ahmad Shamlou has represented the contemporary Iranian society's political demands and expectations. Analyzing and interpreting this relation, the relation between text and context is the aim of this article.
This article believes that all social and literary subjects are political and also believes that every 'text' should be seen within the 'context'.
Keywords
"Shamlou"
"Discourse Theory"
"Freedom"
"Context"
Cultural Studies & Communication
Volume 22, Issue 82
Spring 2026
Pages 81-112