Realism and Symbolism in Mehrdad Sedghi's Story "Cookies with a Cardamom Flavor" (A Study and Analysis)

Abstract

Abstract

Mehrdad Sadeghi's novel "Cookies with the Taste of Cardamom" is a distinctive literary work that blends realism and symbolism in its portrayal of Iranian society during the Iran-Iraq War. Set in the 1980s in a traditional Khorasan setting, the novel chronicles the daily life of a simple family struggling to survive amidst wartime conditions and economic and social pressures. Sadeghi employs a satirical realism that combines simplicity with depth, revealing the contradictions between ideals and lived reality, and between hope and despair that pervade the people. He uses cultural symbols such as "candy" and "the scent of cardamom" to embody the meanings of childhood, memory, and the longing for lost security.

The novel's use of humor as a psychological tool of resistance against the harshness of reality is prominent, transforming everyday situations into scenes imbued with profound human and political significance. A critical analysis of the narrative structure and linguistic descriptions reveals that the work reflects the social and cultural transformations in Iran from a popular perspective closely aligned with real life. The study confirms that Sadeghi, through this blend of symbolism and realism, was able to produce a literary work that is both documentary and humanistic, embodying the features of contemporary Iranian literature and reflecting the voice of the ordinary person in the face of war and alienation