A comparative Study of Iconography and Non-iconography of Communication Mechanisms in Novels Welcome to Hades by Belqis Soleimani and The Woman at Zero Point by Nawal Al-Saadawi: Book Cover as an Example

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Akram Habibi Bardbori ¹

Hussain Mirzaeinia ²

¹ Ph.D in Arabic Language and Literature, University Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

² Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, University Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jall.2026.93414.1540

Abstract

Cultural criticism, as a contemporary critical approach, seeks to analyze and deconstruct literary discourse, uncovering its deep semantic layers shaped by evolving social and cultural contexts. Its significance lies in its capacity to read texts as cultural acts rather than mere aesthetic constructs. Consequently, studying the representation of women is fundamental to understanding shifts in the collective unconscious. Given the scarcity of systematic, culturally-oriented studies on the image of women in contemporary Iraqi poetry, this research addresses this critical deficiency. This study aims to analyze the image of woman in Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetry, specifically within the maternal and romantic spheres. It seeks to unveil the underlying cultural layers in these representations and elucidate their role in shaping poetic meaning and directing audience reception. Employing a descriptive-analytical methodology, this research delves into the manifest and latent aspects of Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetic discourse, utilizing the concepts and tools of cultural criticism. Findings indicate a pivotal presence of the female image in Khairi Al‑Bedeiri’s poetry, where woman transcends marginalization to become a symbolic space reflecting the collective value system, identity, and memory. This image manifests in two prominent archetypes: the ‘Mother’, symbolizing security and stability, and the ‘Beloved’, embodying the horizon of desire and emotional pursuit. The results demonstrate that the poet, through conscious artistic and cultural engagement, utilizes the image of woman as a vehicle to express the relationship between the 'self' and its surrounding social milieu. This imbues the poetic text with semantic and aesthetic dimensions beyond mere description, guiding it towards the construction of a deeper, more comprehensive cultural landscape. Furthermore, this analysis evaluates the position of women within the symbolic structure of the text, underscores the significance of poetry as a site for the production of cultural meaning, and opens avenues for future research in contemporary Iraqi poetry. Such research, viewed through the lens of modern cultural criticism open to diverse theoretical and interpretive approaches, promises valuable insights.
 
 

Keywords

Iraqi Arabic Poetry

Cultural Pattern

Khairi Al‑Bedeiri

Woman

Subjects

• Literary Criticism

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