The Wind-Up Doll Explained

"The Wind-Up Doll" is a poem by Forough Farrokhzad (1934 – 1967). It was translated into English in "A Rebirth: Poems" by David Martin,[1] [2] accompanied by a critical essay by Farzaneh Milani.[3]

Analysis

“The Wind-Up Doll,” conveys the psychological frustrations of women in a restrictive society . This is an ode to her frequent rebellion against patriarchal and religious expectations, to which she was opposed.[4] Many of her poems feature a similar theme, depicting women as dolls to represent their objectification.[5]

In this poem, Farrokhzad expresses feelings of absurdist emptiness through mentioning the roles of women. The narration of the poem is done in such a way that it could be addressing herself, women in general, or the reader.[6] The tone of the poem is satirical and sarcastic, ending with the tragic lines:[7]

'[one] can shout without reason,"Oh I am so happy!"'

Author's legacy

Farrokhzad is one of the most influential Persian poets. Many of her poems focused on feminism thus they have remained important and significant as the voice of women in Iran.[8]

'The Wind-up Doll' is an example of Farrokhzad's poetic obsession with societal issues and critique of tradition.[9] Due to this, Her work has made her a symbol of rebellion against the existing social standards and roles for women. Her poetry has been banned since the Islamic Revolution, however it is still sold illegally.[10] Farrokhzad remains beloved as one of the first female poets to critique inequality in her work.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Martin . David . Farrokhzad . Forough . A Rebirth . 1997 . Mazda Publications.
  2. Book: Gale . Cengage Learning . A Study Guide for Faroogh Farrokhzaad's "A Rebirth" (Poetry for Students) . 8 October 2004 . Gale . 0-7876-6960-1.
  3. Ghanoonparvar . Mohammad R. . 1986 . Reviewed Work(s): A Rebirth: Poems by Forough Farrokhzaad by Forough Farrokhzaad and David Martin: A Nightingale's Lament: Selections from the Poems and Fables of Parvin E'tesami (1907-41) by Heshmat Moayyad and A. Margaret Arent Madelung . Middle East Journal . 40 . 2 . 357–358 . 4327334 .
  4. Book: Milani . Farzaneh . Words, Not Swords: Iranian Women Writers and the Freedom of Movement . 2011 . Syracuse University Press . 9780815632788 . 133–134 . j.ctt1j1ntp6. . 13 September 2023.
  5. Mahmoudibaha . Zeinab . Baghfalaki . Mahdi . Patriarchy and Female Objectification Depicted in the Poetry of Forough Farrokhzad and Kishwar Naheed . New Academia . January 2014 . III . I . 5–6 . 13 September 2023.
  6. Book: Wolpé . Sholeh . Ostriker . Alicia . Sin: Selected Poems of Forugh Farrokhzad . 2007 . University of Arkansas Press . 9781557289483 . x . 10.2307/j.ctt1ffjm51 .
  7. Zubizarreta . John . The Woman Who Sings No, No, No: Love, Freedom, and Rebellion in the Poetry of Forugh Farrokhzad . World Literature Today . 1992 . 66 . 3 . 425 . 10.2307/40148358 . 40148358 . 13 September 2023.
  8. Book: Brookshaw . Dominic Parviz . Rahimieh . Nasrin . Forugh Farrokhzad, Poet of Modern Iran: Iconic Woman and Feminine Pioneer of New Persian Poetry . 2023 . Bloomsbury Publishing . 9780755600694 . xiii, 87 . 2.
  9. Mehrpouyan . Azadeh . Zakeri . Elahesadat . "Critical Feminist Discourse and Authorial Identity in Contemporary Women's Writers: Woolf, Daneshvar, and Farrokhzad." . Journal of Critical Studies in Language and Literature . 2023 . 4 . 2 . 30–39. 10.46809/jcsll.v4i2.199 . 257636121 . free .
  10. Darznik . Jasmin . "Forough goes west: The legacy of Forough Farrokhzad in Iranian diasporic art and literature." . Journal of Middle East Women's Studies . 2010 . 6 . 1 . 103–116. 10.2979/MEW.2010.6.1.103 . 146755540 .
  11. Web site: Matthew . Shaj . Poetry as Life Cycles . Guernica . 26 February 2014 . 24 June 2019.

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