Analysis of the evolutionary path of a hero’s character in a romantic heroic tale from the viewpoint of psychological criticism based on the case study of the tale of Bizhan and Manizheh

In psychological criticism character is the main focus of the research.  According to this approach, hero’s character in Bizhan and Manizheh which is a romantic tale is studied and analyzed in terms of psychological principles to prove the hypothesis that far from the romantic aspects, this genre of stories revolve around the journey the hero undertakes to reach his superior self or his ideal self. This research is based on the descriptive analytic method.  Bizhan experiences the darkness of the unconscious by falling into a well, then feeling of guilt prepares the ground for his perfection; a path which begins with an exile in a dark well which is a symbol for the dark side of Bizhan’s self whose deliverance necessitates a procedure such as a psychological cure to transform the darkness of the within into the brightness which consciousness and freedom brings forth. As a result Bizhan himself together with Manizheh who is a symbol of his id, pays the price of his guilt with the most enduring tortures in order to gain his freedom.  His final trial is a symbol of this advancement.