Document Type : Original Article
Author
, assistant professor of Persian literature and language, ,east branch , Azad university, Tehran, Iran.,
Abstract
Preface
The novel "The Horrifying Confessions of a Dead Turtle" by Morteza Barzegar is the result of the author's grotesque approach to events. Grotesque is a way of looking at existence that was originally referred to as a style in painting and art, and was modeled after the style of ancient cave painting; That is, complex decorations and the interweaving of disparate elements. The expansion of the meaning of this word and its spread to the field of literature took place in France in the 16th century. But it did not come into widespread use until the 18th century and the Age of Reason and Neoclassicism. One of the important characteristics of the grotesque is its comical aspect; But laughter in the grotesque has a special style. Ugly issue is so disgusting and strange that the mind cannot accept it. The shock and horror take on a comical aspect. In fact, the absurdity and impossibility of the subject evokes a reaction of laughter in the audience. The grotesque vision actually ridicules every serious, sacred matter, and every complex situation. This alienation introduces a person to a strange aspect of life. Existence is an unsolvable puzzle that bewilders man amidst terrifying and satisfying things. Every good deed can have a dark side hidden within it that causes human confusion and confusion. Grotesque's approach to the world is a reflection of this human desperation between evil and good. Our goal in this research is to answer two questions:
How are the characteristics of grotesque literature manifested in this novel?
2- Where does the grotesque narrator's (first person) statement originate?
Keywords: novel, grotesque, embodiment, mockery, unconscious, death
Methodology
In this article, using a descriptive method of content analysis, we analyze the elements of grotesque and how the author is influenced by these elements, and also examine the origins of the novel's narrator's tendency to use grotesque language and components.
Research outcome
In the novel in question, the main character, who is the narrator of the entire story, uses humorous language to turn the most difficult and overwhelming events in life into a terrifying farce. The narrator uses death and the images and customs surrounding it as a pretext to confront the reader with fear combined with an unconventional laugh. This style expresses the grotesque's unique view of life.
In this novel, the characters, sensitive situations, human relationships and emotions, customs and rituals are all influenced by this perspective. Bitterness emerges in ridicule, and a ridiculous paradox is formed of mourning and humor. The characters in this novel appear with all their physical and psychological flaws.
The body is an important issue in the grotesque category; not as a perfect and desirable form, but with exaggerated mention of flaws and shortcomings. Deformed faces, deformed limbs, and diseases whose description is usually accompanied by a sense of shame, feature prominently in Grotesque's works. Physical matters such as eating, defecation, and sexual relations are also revealed in an extreme way. Frantic descriptions of hunger and insatiability are evident throughout this novel. The description of eating often takes on a disgusting form, creating humor mixed with hatred. Another frequently used element is foul language, profanity, and obscene jokes, which are considered to be clear signs of grotesque.
result
In the novel The Horrifying Confessions of a Dead Turtle, the tragic and horrific situation of the death of the narrator's wife takes place in a grotesque atmosphere. The satirical language of the characters, physicality, inversion, and distortion of values are important characteristics of the style of this work, which have been analyzed in the article with various evidence. An important point that emerges from this research is the discovery of the roots and origins of this type of grotesque attitude in the novel. The narrator's subconscious is involved in unpleasant experiences and events that have affected his mind and language. Fear of death is one of the most important reasons for the emergence of grotesque in this novel. To cope with this unconscious fear, the narrator turns to humor and jokes. His role-playing and effeminacy can also be interpreted as a grotesque mask linked to the fear of death.
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