Interacting with and defying power structure in Hafez’s poetry

Poetry, in the history of Persian literature, has either served to support and legitimize power or to defy it. How and why Hafez, in his poetry, interacted with or defied power structure are the significant issue which can help both clarify his poetry and illuminate the reason why he interacted or defied different sides in power structure. Relying on descriptive-analytical method, the present article is going to investigate attitudes in Hafez’s poetry to power structure. Hafez’s poetry, it is suggested, though not a fully political one, follows the principles of writing “Siastnameh”. Hence his focus on “farah Izadi” and “the King’s justice” and also his use of eulogy and satire in face of the ruling system. Realizing the inetevitability of the institution of power and its security and cultural functions, he has appreciated the actions and attempts of rulers in providing society with justice, security, and Sharia law.  Also like many other Persian poets, he has repudiated such manifestations of power like hypocrisy, oppression , and duplicity- being traditionally represented  in the character of Mohtaseb  and  its historical figure, Amir Mobarez- al- din Mozaffari.