A Study of "I" and "Me" in the Identity of Women in the Heroic Section of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

AbstractIdentity is a mental state for recognition, which can be found in the characteristics distinguishing each individual. The study of women's identity has been the subject of research through various means in the literature. The Shahnameh or the long epic poem book, written by the Persian Poet Ferdowsi, is continually playing a crucial role in the cultural and social heritage of Iranians. The book is an acceptable source to study women’s identity in Persian territory. The research version of the text is edited by Dr. Khaleghi Motlaq and the research methodology, itself, is qualitative. Content analysis is the technique, used in the present study. The research framework is a conceptual model where two fundamental concepts of “I” and “me” are used to analyze women’s actions in Shahnameh. This analysis shows that their identity is the result of the superiority of the word "I" in nature. In the actions of all the characters, except Sindokht, the "I" is more obvious than the word "Me". When it comes to choose or decide, the women do actions, which are subliminal to their consciousness. However, when they act contrary to the traditional norms and expectations, the "I" becomes apparent. It is the occurrence of these different and norm-breaking actions that cause their individualities. Boldness in love, courage, warfare, wisdom, and politics can be considered as the identifying features of women in the heroic part of the Shahnameh..