Ecological Analysis of the Poetry of Forough Farrokhzad based on the Theory of Ecocriticism

Ecocriticism, which studies the relationship between literature and ecology, is one of the less-known but worthy of research fields of study among interdisciplinary studies. Ecocriticism could be considered as a return to the view that fosters the interrelationship between the reader, the text, and the external world and is a reaction to Postmodernism and Post-structuralism. Ecocriticism has its links to the social and intellectual movement of Feminism which strives to improve the status of women in society. One of the feminist movements which focuses on the causes of the destruction of nature and earthly environment and also guards against the exploitation of women in society is Eco-feminism, which connects Ecocriticsm to Feminism, and has the central notion that the exploitation of women in society originates from male-dominated world and the decline of the status of women and nature. The most significant question for which Feminism attempts to find an answer is to what extent men are legible to speak on behalf of women in literary texts. Hence, Feminism led to Feminist Literary Criticism. In Modern Persian Literature, the most serious and influential Feminist Criticism could be seen in Forough Farrokhzad’s poetry. She is the first Persian female poet who frankly disclosed her feminist desires and hopes in a feminine, pure, and humble language while illustrating the world of women in contemporary Iran. The goal of this study is to explore Ecofeminist traces in Forough Farrokhzad’s poetry. Therefore, the following themes and issues which may help to connect her thoughts and language to nature are presented: “The Nature Ontology”, “The Seasons and Time Passage”, “The Four Major Elements in Nature”, “The Tree and The Plant”, and “The Earth and The Sky Creatures”. The present study strives to see the extent to Nature is reflected in the thoughts and poetry of Forough Farrokhzad and to show her main concerns with respect to Nature and Ecology.