Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 10، Junuary 2026 ، issue Number 116

The Crisis of Cognition in a Class-Based Society Based on Lucien Goldman's Theory in Contemporary Persian Novel(Case Study: The Vacancy of Soluch by Mahmoud Dolatabadi)

Masoumeh Alamdari Badlo , Zahra Dorri (Author in Charge), Azar Daneshgar , Fatemeh Heidari

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The novel The Vacancy of Soluch by Mahmoud Dolatabadi presents a vivid picture of the rural and class-based society of Iran in the 1940s and during the land reforms, in which human relations and individuals" understanding of individual and social identity and reality are influenced by the social and economic structure. According to Lucien Goldman"s theory, individuals" consciousness is always the product of class conditions and social structure and the society around them. This research aims to examine and analyze the "crisis of cognition" in the rural and crisis-ridden society in the novel The Vacancy of Soluch, and aims to analyze the behavior and thoughts of the characters in the novel and show how the class structure in society prevents the correct understanding of reality or its change.

METHODOLOGY: The research method in this article is descriptive-analytical based on library studies relying on Lucien Goldman"s sociological theory.

FINDINGS: The research findings show that in the novel The Vacancy of Soluch, the main characters of the story have limited awareness and are affected by traditions and livelihood pressures due to belonging to a socially disadvantaged class. These limitations cause a crisis in the identity of individuals and even in family and collective relationships. The result of the research is that, according to Goldman, the awareness of the lower class is in complete connection with cultural, social and economic limitations and can turn into poverty and powerlessness, the reflection of which is clearly visible in the novel The Vacancy of Soluch.

CONCLUSION: The results of the research show that the novel The Vacancy of Soluch is not merely a reflection of individual suffering, but also represents collective class awareness in rural Iranian society. By depicting the lives of Morgan and his children, Dolatabadi shows that social awareness is formed gradually and in the heart of the lived experience of poverty and domination. From Goldman"s perspective, this novel is an outstanding example of committed literature that has been able to well represent the situation of the lower class of society and become the language of collective consciousness.

Keyword
Cognitive crisis. Class society. Lucien Goldman. The Vacancy