MODERN WOMEN IN BAHMANYOR’S SHAHANSHAH AND CALVINO’S METAFICTIONAL WORLDS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Bahmanyor, a prominent Tajik male author, stands out for his nuanced exploration of women and femininity in his literary works, particularly in Shahanshah. This novel introduces the archetype of the modern urban Tajik woman, contrasting her with traditional rural women and historical female figures. Through the characters of Chisto and Sito, two sisters embodying contemporary freedoms, Bahmanyor examines the evolving social liberties of Tajik women. This paper analyzes the depiction of these urban women, their independence, and their juxtaposition with historical and rural female archetypes, situating Shahanshah within the broader context of Tajik and post-Soviet literature. The narrative is non-linear and fragmented, incorporating: Intertextuality (references to historical, literary, or cultural sources), metafiction (self-aware commentary on writing, storytelling, and reality), multiple perspectives and voices, blurring of reality and imagination, cultural/historical critique (questioning power, identity, and societal change). These elements align with postmodern and metafictional styles, as analyzed in this study (with comparison with Italo Calvino’s If on a winter’s night a traveler and One Thousand and Nights two sister figures) highlighting six key postmodern features in the novel, positioning it as a sophisticated example in Tajik literature.