Abstract
ABSTRACT This paper challenges the conventional histories concerning early translations of dramas in Iran through a sociohistorical reading of Jamalzadeh’s Persianized representation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People in 1961. Focusing on Bourdieu’s theory of practice toned with Pym’s translation historiography, the authors explore the ‘whys’ of Jamalzadeh’s motives when he opted to translate Ibsen’s drama. The article, therefore, examines Jamalzadeh’s rewriting against the backdrop of the field of theatre in 1950s Iran to unveil the sociopolitical dynamics that conditioned and shaped his translation. Also, embedding in Bourdieu’s concept of habitus the Derridean notion of the ideal translator, the authors explore Jamalzadeh’s (bi)cultural habitus(es) as a translator in self-exile. It is proposed that (a) utilizing his Iranian cultural memories, Jamalzadeh depicted parallels between incidents in the drama and the political events of the decade leading to the 1953 coup and the fall of Mosaddegh; (b) exploiting his European cultural/intellectual memories, he deploys Ibsen’s text to taunt Iranian political elites’ short-sightedness and/or hypocrisy and lament the herd behaviour of the masses consequent on the former group’s debilitating conflicts.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.