Ecological Identity and The Discourse of Power: An Ecocritical Reading of Kelidar

Ecocriticism studies the relation between literature and the physical environment and analyzes ecological concerns in socio-political contexts. In order to represent the effects of the discourse of power on the ecological identity of the characters in Dowlatabadi’s Kelidar, this article employs the descriptive-analytical method to study the characters’ ecological concerns in relation to nature. Subjectification of each of Kelidar’s characters manifests through their reactions when they are in authoritative positions of the discourse of power. In Kalmiši’s surrender to sedentism, his ecologic fear, and his displacement of desert identity; in Belqays’s mental breakdown and loss of identity; in Gol-Mohammad’s blasphemy, ecologic fear, unadaptability to the harsh climate where he was banished, and guardslaughter; in Beg-Mohammad’s migration and ecologic fear; in Khan-Mohammad’s ruminations and dialogues with the elements of nature and reflections on his existence. Through character analysis in relation to the environment and the discourse of power, we concluded that the authoritative discourse of power leads to the characters’ fabrication of a persona, and their objectification, distancing them from their ecologic identity and inner truth built in relation to the nature and seizing their freedom and rationality. In other words, the change in their ecology changes their nature and creates a powerful anti-discourse.