Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Professor of Persian language and literature، university of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran (Corresponding Author).
2
Professor, Counseling Department, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
3
Ph.D. Student in Persian Language and Literature, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22034/jmzf.2024.495579.1215
Abstract
1. Introduction
A significant part of the body of literature of any nation is formed by children’s literature. Today, considering the role children play in the formation of societies, the importance of children’s literature has become increasingly prominent. It can be said that children’s literature is one of the most important tools in the education and upbringing of children and adolescents. A child needs to learn scientific and social concepts required in everyday life. Since human personality is shaped during childhood, this period holds particular importance (Riahi, 2015: 67). One of the important domains of children’s literature is defined through storytelling and narrative writing. A fable is a story containing an imaginary account or event from the lives of humans, animals, birds, or mythical creatures such as demons, fairies, giants, and dragons, accompanied by mysteries and sometimes moral and educational purposes, and it is often written for the purpose of entertaining readers. The distinguishing feature of fables is their strong and exaggerated imagination. Fables have various types: allegorical, fairy tales, romantic, and heroic (Zolfaghari & Bagheri, 2015: 7).
The story “The Uninvited Guest” is one of the most prominent works of Iranian children’s literature, which has not only received remarkable attention in the country but has also crossed borders and significantly influenced the creation of children’s literary works beyond them. Positive psychology, as a modern approach in recent decades, with its focus on strengths, virtues, a hopeful outlook on life, and the cultivation of positive emotions, has gained a special place in psychological and literary studies. Martin Seligman’s theories, particularly the PERMA model (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment), provide a valid framework for analyzing constructs related to well-being and human flourishing. Examining such components in literary texts, especially narrative works, makes it possible to uncover the hidden capacities of literature in promoting mental health.
The story “The Uninvited Guest,” as a literary work with valuable human themes, has the potential to be analyzed from the perspective of positive psychology. Analyzing this work based on Seligman’s viewpoint can demonstrate how literature can contribute to strengthening hope, resilience, meaning-making, and constructive relationships. Moreover, in current conditions where society is faced with emotional challenges, tensions, and widespread psychological pressures, attention to the role of literature in enhancing psychological well-being becomes increasingly necessary. Furthermore, many studies conducted in the field of positive psychology have primarily focused on psychological interventions or experimental research, and less attention has been paid to the capacities of Persian literature in reflecting positive-oriented concepts. Therefore, this study can, to some extent, fill the existing research gap and create a bridge between literary studies and positive psychology.
2. Methodology
This research is qualitative in nature and is conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach. In this type of research, instead of collecting quantitative data, the researcher analyzes concepts, themes, and semantic structures within the literary text. The main objective is to identify and explain the components of positive psychology based on the theoretical framework of Martin Seligman. The data are collected through library research and based on written sources. In qualitative research, there are no instruments in the sense of quantitative measurement tools. The main tools of the research include note-taking, conceptual coding, qualitative content analysis, and Seligman’s theoretical framework. This framework provides a clear classification of positive psychology components and serves as the basis for data extraction.
3. Discussion
Based on Martin Seligman’s perspective, it can be argued that individuals, by utilizing the power of wisdom and awareness, can experience a life filled with peace and security. Curiosity, passion and interest, a strong desire to learn, creativity, judgment based on justice, flexibility, and possessing a broad outlook are among the characteristics of wisdom (cf. Seligman, 2000: 205).
One of the features of wise individuals is their possession of insight. Insightful individuals, when faced with a problem, consider it both from a rational perspective and in terms of its emotional dimension. According to Schultz, reliance solely on the faculty of reason does not lead us to our destination; rather, the emotional aspect of issues is also significant. Emotion creates in us the confidence needed to achieve effective insight. Individuals who enjoy mental health make decisions between the two forces of reason and emotion and trust them (Schultz, 1998: 128).
The second virtue, from Martin Seligman’s viewpoint, is courage and the possession of a humanistic boldness. Bravery and valor, seriousness in work and perseverance, honesty and sincerity (cf. Bernard, 2008: 112) are the most important subcomponents of the virtue of courage which, when realized, can place individuals on the path of well-being and bring them happiness, vitality, and life satisfaction. In the story The Uninvited Guest, traces of courage can be observed in the behaviors and dialogues of the characters, and it can be acknowledged that our folklore literature has long moved in alignment with positive psychology, seeking to improve individuals’ living conditions.
Martin Seligman and his colleagues introduce the virtue of humanity and love, along with several subcomponents, as positive virtues which, when strengthened, can guide human life toward improvement and bring vitality and happiness to societies. Kindness and generosity, loving one another, affection, helping others, support, and other traits that inherently involve empathy and assistance fall under the category of the virtue of humanity.
The fourth virtue, from Seligman’s perspective, is justice, encompassing fairness and equality. Justice includes characteristics such as citizenship, equality, and competent leadership (Pirani, 2013: 341). In the character of the old woman in the story, a form of justice-seeking tendency is evident. She is committed to equality and fairness. The most important indication of her fairness and justice is reflected in her manner of treating the animals. The animals differ greatly in terms of power, size, and status; however, the old woman treats each of them with fairness and equality. She seats all the guests at the same level. When they sleep at night, they all benefit from the same facilities. When they decide to leave her house, they all receive the same kind of treatment from her. The attention she gives them is equal and uniform. She is never able to choose one among the animals to stay. Her inner sense of justice and fairness leads her, at the end of the story, to ask all the animals to remain in her house. Even her look toward the guests is kind and equal:
“The old woman cast her kind look upon each of the guests and said: ‘Now that you wish to stay with me, you must all work together and build a room for yourselves so that we can all live comfortably’” (Farjam, 1984: 22).
The virtue of temperance refers to those actions and behaviors that are under the individual’s control. Those who follow a particular order in life and are self-restrained are, in fact, moderate individuals. Such people possess foresight. Humility is also one of the important traits of the moderate (Pirani, 2013: 341).
The final virtue among Martin Seligman’s six virtues is transcendence. This type of virtue reflects the human connection with a world beyond (Seligman, 2000: 29). In the story The Uninvited Guest, among the aforementioned characteristics, gratitude and thankfulness can be identified as positive virtues. When the old woman rescues the animals from the night rain and shelters them in her home, a sense of gratitude toward her behavior is observed in each of the guests. This sense of gratitude indicates the connection of the characters’ elevated ghost with a higher realm. They have the ability to perceive behaviors imbued with kindness and humanity and are capable of bowing in humility and appreciation in response to kindness and love. The most prominent sign of gratitude appears on the morning after the rainy night. While the old woman is still asleep from exhaustion, all the guests prepare her breakfast as a gesture of appreciation:
“The next morning, because the old woman was so tired, she woke up late, but when she opened her eyes, she saw that there was a commotion in her house” (Farjam, 1984: 16).
4. Conclusion
The author of the story The Uninvited Guest, in developing the characters of the narrative, has made considerable use of psychological knowledge. In this story, it is clearly demonstrated that Martin Seligman’s six virtues are reflected in the behaviors and actions of the characters and have led to their well-being alongside one another. The old woman, as the main character, is wise and possesses curiosity, as she inquisitively opens the door with every knock to see who is behind it. Creativity is abundantly evident in her behavior, since when a problem arises, she suggests that the guests expand the house in order to stay there.
Moreover, in alignment with Seligman’s theory, the old woman possesses insight; that is, she combines emotion with reason. Despite her deep compassion toward the animals, she opposes the idea of all of them living together in a small house. This decision demonstrates the ultimate degree of her insightfulness. Courage, as the second virtue in Seligman’s framework, is clearly present in the old woman’s home. She bravely allows various animals into her house, and the animals, despite their mutual hostility, spend the night together peacefully.
Humanity, in the form of kindness, cooperation, and assistance, is manifested in this story. The old woman shows love toward all, and in return, the animals help one another to create a joyful, satisfying, and pleasant atmosphere within the house. The virtue of justice is also clearly evident in the old woman’s behavior. She extends her affection and love equally to all guests. The virtue of temperance is reflected in the old woman’s foresight and in her ability to manage and control the animals’ behavior.
In conclusion, it can be stated that a sense of gratitude, as a form of the virtue of transcendence, emerges within each of the guests in the house. This feeling brings about satisfaction and contentment in their lives. They experience a deep sense of gratitude for the old woman’s response to them on that rainy night.
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