shahameh discussion post
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Clayton State University *
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Course
2111
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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3
Uploaded by SargentTitaniumSquirrel26 on coursehero.com
In 3 well-developed paragraphs discuss the topic listed below.
After you have posted your discussion, respond in detail to the
Discussion Topic posts of at least two other classmates.
TASK: Persian cultural values as found
in
Shahnemah
:
In the
Shahnameh
, both choosing good and
remaining loyal to the Shah are highly esteemed.
1.
In one paragraph, explain what happens in the epic when
"choosing good" and "remaining loyal" come into
conflict.
2.
In another paragraph, why is this conflict significant or
essential for understanding Rustem within his culture and
the
Shahnameh
as a whole?
3.
For the last paragraph, explain more generally, where
else have you seen conflicted heroes (perhaps other
books you have read, TV shows, movies, etc)?
In the Shahnameh, one’s loyalty to the king, or shah, is
everything. The characters in Shahnameh can be described in
a plethora of ways, but many of them share a common trait:
undying loyalty to the shah. For example, when given the
chance to take over the throne, both Rustem and his
grandfather Sam choose to remain loyal, even though the
shahs may be foolish and unwise (Interpreting Shahnameh:
Themes). Loyalty to the king is a sacred virtue in Shahnameh,
as it was during the time it was written. However, there was
another sacred virtue in Persian culture at the time, which was
upholding morality in the name of religion. Zoroastrianism is
the ancient, pre-Islamic religion of Persia (Zoroastrianism: the
Religion of Ancient Persia). The religion teaches judgment and
punishment or reward in the afterlife (Zoroastrianism: the
Religion of Ancient Persia). Those who follow Zoroastrianism
strive to do what is right. Therefore, living in goodness rather
than evil is of utmost importance in Shahnameh.
The two most sacred virtues in Shahnameh, loyalty and
morality, can inevitably present a conflict at times. In some
circumstances, one must choose between what is truly right
and remaining loyal to the shah. In the epic, Rustem loses his
beloved horse and goes to search for him (Shahnameh,
Chapter 8). In his search, he enters a land called Samengan
(Shahnameh, Chapter 8). There he meets Princess Tahmina,
who falls in love with him (Shahnameh, Chapter 8).
Unbeknownst to Rustem, they conceive of a child, but when
Rustem’s horse is found, he returns home (Shahnameh,
Chapter 8). When the child, Sohrab, comes to know his
father’s identity, he decides to enter war against Kai Kaous,
because he wants to make his father king (Shahnameh,
Chapter 8). In this circumstance, Sohrab is doing what he
believes to be the right thing. On the other hand, Sohrab’s
father, Rustem, will always choose loyalty to the shah. The
shah is very unwise and often unkind to Rustem (Interpreting
Shahnameh: Themes). Rustem at times questions if the shah
is worthy to be served, but still decides to leave Tahmina and
fight for the king time and time again (Interpreting
Shahnameh: Themes). Rustem goes into battle with his own
son, and kills him, realizing his mistake too late (Shahnameh,
Chapter 8). Had Rustem chosen to stay with Taminah or stand
up against the shah when he had the chance, he may not
have been placed into battle against his own son. Although he
did not intentionally kill his own son, his constant loyalty to
the shah led him into battle, causing him great despair when
he learned of his loss. “My heart is sick unto death,” Rustem
utters (Shahnameh, Chapter 8). This tragedy evokes not only
strong emotion and sympathy for Rustem and Sohrab onto the
reader, but also leads to the question of how this awful
situation could have been avoided. Rustem is not weak for
being a conflicted hero, and his struggle is eye-opening, as
many of us would have the same dilemma if placed in his
shoes. Rustem’s conflict between loyalty and morality is
human and readers can identify, which makes the tragic loss
of his son that much more jarring.
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