An Analysis of the Tragedy of Siyavash Based on Frye’s theory of “Mythos Tragedy”

The Shanameh written by Ferdowsi is a long epic poem in Persian classic literature that has many tragic stories, among which we can mention the murder of Siyavash (Soug-e Siyavash) as an old narrative with a tragic theme. This study aims to explore the story of the murder of Siyavash based on the theory of “Mythos Tragedy” by the Canadian critic, Northrop Frye. According to the theory which asserts some general principles on the anatomy of tragedy, “The Murder of Siyash” involves some components such as “incompatibility between love and social structure”, “predetermined destiny” as well as 6 phases that all make it as one of the most beautiful tragedies in the world. In his theory, Frye does not refer to an antihero, but rather he attributes the tragedy to the predetermined course of events, destiny, and the will of Gods that turn the friendship to animosity. In the story of Siyavash, the dominance of fate and inspired destiny leads to unintended and accidental hostility between Afrasiyab and his daughter and son-in-law ending to an inadvertent fight. Another component of tragedy is “inevitability of the final catastrophe” that is depicted in the best way in the “Murder of Siyavash”. The ultimate peace and tranquility at the end of the story as well as its fatalist ideology lead to a sort of metaphysical relief that is required in the ending of a tragic work.