Azita Zamani; Zahra Bordbari; Javad Yaghoobi Derabi
Abstract
IntroductionThe present research examines Greenblatt's theories on the improvisation of power and tyranny in Shakespeare's play Richard III, considering Hayles and Slethaug's ideas of chaos theory. The focus is on the nonviolent psychological control achieved through empathy using displacement and absorption. ...
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IntroductionThe present research examines Greenblatt's theories on the improvisation of power and tyranny in Shakespeare's play Richard III, considering Hayles and Slethaug's ideas of chaos theory. The focus is on the nonviolent psychological control achieved through empathy using displacement and absorption. The study explores how chaos is manipulated to establish a new order and analyzes how the tyrants, specifically Richard III, use it to employ oppressive strategies to dominate others. The consequences of disrupting the established order are also explored, as Richard III tries unsuccessfully to establish control through tyranny.Background of StudyScholars have analyzed Shakespeare's historical plays, adding depth to this essay. Edward Lorenz's chaos theory, explored by Catherine Hayles and Gordon Slethaug, provides an interdisciplinary viewpoint. Stephen Greenblatt's article "The Improvisation of Power" and his book Tyranny (Shakespeare and Politics) explore the connections between English autocracy and modern tyranny like Trumpism in Shakespeare's works. Slethaug 's Beautiful Chaos and Hayles' Chaos Bound explore contemporary American fiction and the relationship between literature, theory, and chaos science.Methodology In Daniel Lerner's work "Passing from Traditional Society: Modernization of the Middle East," the development of empathy is discussed as a psychological skill in western societies, attributed to migration caused by war and famine. Stephen Greenblatt expands on this concept in his idea of power improvisation, which highlights the destructive potential of empathy. The improvisation of power involves pursuing a goal while adapting tactics based on the current situation, psychologically dominating the target through displacement and absorption. Greenblatt's work Tyrant (Shakespeare and Politics) explores the relationship between Shakespeare's plays and the political climate of Renaissance England, focusing on the rise and fall of tyrants and the role of the people. The research also explores chaos theory, which uncovers hidden patterns in seemingly random sequences, applicable in both scientific and literary contexts.ConclusionThe essay delves into the consequences of the improvisation of power and tyranny on hierarchical relationships and political equations, utilizing the theories proposed by Stephen Greenblatt. It analyzes the manner in which the improvisation of power can reorganize and reconstruct identities in Shakespeare's historical plays, emphasizing the significance of psychological dynamics and empathy. Shakespeare's authentic depiction of characters captivates readers, challenging the established historical narratives through the improvisation of power at another level. The essay also examines the impact of Catholic religious fundamentalism during the Middle Ages, acknowledging its role in the improvisation of power. The presence of dual centers of power creates a psychological duality within the characters. By harnessing chaos to their advantage, power improvisation has the potential to disrupt governmental systems and manipulate existing orders.
Atieh Momenzadeh; Bahman Zarrinjooee
Abstract
Game of Thrones is the first book of Song of Ice and Fire series by American author George Raymond Richard Martin; a fictional-epic story set in the realm of Westeros. The main line of story is the struggle and war to reach the Iron Throne, during which several other stories are born. What distinguishes ...
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Game of Thrones is the first book of Song of Ice and Fire series by American author George Raymond Richard Martin; a fictional-epic story set in the realm of Westeros. The main line of story is the struggle and war to reach the Iron Throne, during which several other stories are born. What distinguishes its plot is the existence of chaos in the system of government that seeks a unified leadership over this chaotic world. This research traces Nancy Katherine Hayles and Edward Lorenz’s chaos theories in the novel–as a complex and chaotic system—, shows various forces that dominate time, place, and characters who make the end of the story unpredictable. It shows the "Butterfly Effect" in the story, and since events in the history of this complex system are repeated, the role of “Fractals” is identified. The researchers show the structure of this novel is full of chaos and disorder and the author tries to create order from these irregularities.Background of the Study: A collection of analytical readings edited by James Lowder on Song of Ice and Fire entitled Beyond the Wall (2012) examines Martin’s fantasy collection. This anthology provides a way to explore Martin’s multifaceted world. Moreover, different works have been conducted on the series from romanticism to psychological reading. However, there is not a single work from chaos perspectives. Therefore, the present research can fill the existing gap in these fields.Methodology: This research reads Martin’s Game of Thrones through an interdisciplinary method based on Catherine Hayles and Edvard Lorenz’s theories of chaos. Martin’s works are implicitly chaotic in nature; the narrative forms problematize the linear structure and coherence presenting multiplicities of point of views that serve to augment individual insights, a carefully crafted and cohesive drama about the prevalence of disorder in life. The other major concepts of chaos like “Butterfly Effect” and “Fractals” which are overarching patterns, probable and possibly deterministic but not predictable, lied underneath the texts. The researchers aim to apply the principles of the chaos theory to the novel and explore the changing nature of this system in which truth, precision, and predictability cannot be obtained.Conclusion: Reading Game of Thrones—having a non-linear history, full of complexity, entanglement of stories and variety of characters—based on chaos theory facilitates a more complex understanding of the oeuvre. Westeros’ chaotic world with its protective Wall functions as a closed system. However, chaos is an inevitable phenomenon that takes place due to reliance on the initial condition. Based on the “Butterfly Effect”, the smallest change in the system can cause the greatest events. Westeros is full of unpredictabilities in which consequences surprise the characters and the existence of “Fractal” adds to the complexity of chaos. History repeats itself with the same pattern for the characters; they are living in a deterministic system in which their destinies have already been decided through complex relationship.