A critical Analysis of the Individual and National Identity of Iranian Women (Gordafrid) and Anirani Women (Sudabeh) in Shahnameh Based on Erich Fromm's perspective

Ghanbarailbaghni, Zahra; Ojaqh Alizad, Shahin; Parnian, Mousa

doi:10.22034/heroic.2026.3.5.09

A critical Analysis of the Individual and National Identity of Iranian Women (Gordafrid) and Anirani Women (Sudabeh) in Shahnameh Based on Erich Fromm's perspective

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Zahra Ghanbarailbaghni ¹

Shahin Ojaqh Alizad ²

Mousa Parnian ³

¹ Faculty member of Applied Linguistics Research Center, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran

² Associate Professor Persian language and literature, Applied Linguistics Research Center, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran

³ Associate Professor Department of Persian Language and Literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Razi University; Kermanshah, Iran

10.22034/heroic.2026.3.5.09

Abstract

Female characters in epics and myths have always played a prominent role in representing cultural norms. Gordafrid (Iranian woman) and Sudabeh (Anirani woman), two important characters in Shahnameh, each of which in turn reflects different aspects of the identity and social roles of Iranian and Anirani women. According to Fromm’s theory, an individual’s approach to communicating with others and achieving identity or lack thereof in communicating with national identity becomes a correct understanding of individual identity. This essay, using an analytical-descriptive method, has conducted a comparative and critical study of Iranian and Anirani women’s identities based on the text of Shahnameh (Khaleghi Motlaq editor) based on Erich Fromm’s perspective. The findings of the research show that Gordafrid, as an Iranian warrior woman, expresses her patriotism by defending those around her and being a warrior against Sohrab. With her unique wisdom and intelligence, she has preserved her identity and changed the course of the war's fate. In contrast, Soudabeh, as one of the scheming and evil women, loses her true identity in most of the story and in practice suffers from a lack of personal identity along with a desire for domination.

Keywords

Identity

Shahnameh

Iranian and Iranian women

Gordafarid

Soudabeh

Erich Fromm

Subjects