Namaeh Farhangistan

Namaeh Farhangistan

The Struggle of Hope and Despair in the Novels Savushun and Noghreh, The Girl of the Kabul Sea

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Najmeh Nazari 1
Parastoo Basiri 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
2 Master's degree in Persian Language and Literature, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
10.22034/nf.2026.532702.1422
Abstract
Human existence is characterized by a continuous fluctuation between hope and despair. Hope, as a positive psychological process, plays a crucial role in an individual’s physical and mental well-being; conversely, despair regarding social participation drives society toward stagnation and passivity. The reflection of these phenomena in literary works can be examined through various interdisciplinary lenses, including sociology, philosophy, and psychology. Employing a psychological approach grounded in Snyder’s Hope Theory, the present study provides a comparative analysis of the manifestations and functions of hope and despair in Simin Daneshvar’s Savushun and Homeyra Qaderi’s Noghreh, The Girl of the Kabul Sea. Both female-centric novels depict critical moments in their respective countries’ histories, offering a sharp critique of domestic tyranny and British colonialism. The narratives highlight women who strive to keep hope alive within themselves and their communities despite severe socio-political turmoil and restrictions. In both works, family relationships, cultivated optimism, and empathy play significant roles in fostering hope and sustaining resilience. Ultimately, the study reveals that while foreign colonialism acts as the central catalyst for societal disorder and prevailing oppression in Savushun, domestic tyranny serves as the primary source of corruption, insecurity, and despair in Qaderi’s novel.
Keywords
Hope
Despair
Simin Daneshvar
Savushun
Homeyra Qaderi
Noghreh The Girl of the Kabul Sea
Subjects
References
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Namaeh Farhangistan
Volume 25, Issue 2 - Serial Number 102
Nemeh Farhangestan (Comparative Literature)
May and June 2026
Pages 61-78

  • Receive Date 10 July 2025
  • Accept Date 22 July 2025