A Woman as a Man’s Tool: M.M. Kazemi’s "Terrible Tehran"

Abstract

This article explores one of the central female characters in Terrible Tehran (1922), the first social novel by Persian writer Mortaza Moshfeq Kazemi (1902–1977). The text addresses the role of women in Muslim society, particularly concerning their rights and freedoms. Kazemi presents a patriarchal social structure in which women are systematically oppressed and deprived of any meaningful protection of their interests. The novel exposes the shameful behavior of men who instrumentalize women to fulfill their own desires and ambitions. The article aims to examine the character of Mein—the novel’s principal female figure—through the lens of feminist criticism. The feminist interpretation of literature from Eastern cultures remains relatively underexplored compared to historical analyses of gender issues. Mein’s portrayal diverges significantly from traditional depictions of women in the Muslim world. Kazemi introduces a strong, independent young woman determined to defend her rights and fight for her love, even if it means confronting her own father—a source of her suffering. The study also considers Mein’s relationship not only with her family but with the broader society in which she lives. Gender differences are discussed not merely in biological terms but as socially constructed phenomena. Kazemi was among the first Iranian authors to address the question of women’s rights in literature. His indignation at the degrading treatment of women is evident in his depiction of male characters, particularly in their self-assumed role as “masters”. The themes and conflicts presented in Terrible Tehran remain strikingly relevant in the 21st century.