Investigating the power relationships in Weiss and Ramin story according to Michel Foucalt's view

In Foucault's intellectual system, power is considered a network of relations that is constantly expanding and spreading throughout all social domains. The present study, using the method of qualitative content analysis based on documents and relying on Michel Foucault's view on the subject of power, seeks to find manifestations and examples of power in the personal relationships of the characters in the Vis and Ramin narrative by Fakhruddin As'ad Gurgani. In this analysis, the central components related to the discussion are structured as follows: strategy of power, manifestations of the exercise and emergence of power, the relationship of power with freedom, resistance and transgression, institutions and guiding forces with the stabilizing force of power. Based on the results of the discussion, the mentioned narrative has a special correspondence and affinity with Foucault's ideas. It was also argued how the characters of this narrative, regardless of their hierarchical position, are in a broad network in the path of exercising power; in such a way that power can be seen as a guiding component in all levels of people's behavior and speech in this story. Resistance and transgression strategically display specific ways of responses and reactions,
Extended abstract
 
1. Introduction
Michel Foucault (1926-1984) rejects the hierarchical understanding of the concept of power and believes that power is not a simple concept communicated from top to bottom and in a commanding manner, but rather flows in a network of intricate relationships and different layers of social and linguistic interactions. (Deleuze, 2010: 59) Understanding power in Foucault’s thought requires understanding the relationship between the exercise of power and the freedom of individuals, the strategy of power and the possibility of transgression, and the relationship between power and resistance. Each of these concepts sheds light on some of the dark corners of individual action and reaction in the social arena.
This study, stating that the evolution in recent theories has been able to expand the understanding and recognition of individuals in social and human spheres, considers it necessary to benefit from the capacity created in literary studies to revive the precious heritage of ancient Persian literature. One of the classic and thought-provoking works of Persian literature is the collection of poems Weiss and Ramin by Fakhreddin Asad Gorgani. In this study, a different reading and a new understanding of the intratextual relationships and relations of the Weiss and Ramin poetry system are the main goals of the authors. The main issue of this research is the way in which power is distributed and expanded in the context of social relations and the examination of its function in the relationships between individuals in the studied society. Therefore, it addresses the question of how the methods of exercising power and reacting to it are displayed at different levels of society and how the strategic strategy of individuals in resisting or displaying their degrees of enjoyment of freedom is manifested?
 
.2. Research methodology
This research was conducted using the qualitative content analysis method of documents. The data collection tool in this research is in the form of documents and library study. In this regard, after explaining Michel Foucault's theoretical foundations regarding power and formulating its main components, the relationship between the characters of the study subject was analyzed using the content analysis method.
 
3.Discussion
From the beginning of the story of Weiss and Ramin, the romantic and power-based challenge in the story begins with Shah Mobed's request. Although Shah Mobed has the highest political and social position, fulfilling his request can only be interpreted as a possibility, because Shahro can resist it. Shahro wants to emerge victorious from this game by delaying his response, suspecting her infertility. The tactic that Shah Mobed and Shahro use in this conversation is a strategy of struggle in which both try to win this game by advancing their own desires.
In this story, although the story takes a specific direction with Shah Mobed's request and Shahro's response, it expands and takes on different dimensions through the social life of the two. The game is displayed at different levels, and the entry of each actor changes the balance of power. In this arena, power is not simply a one-sided force from top to bottom. In this approach, power appears as a relational matter. Paying attention to the field of resistances against power helps us to better understand power relations. In a part of the story, with the plot of Ramin's love, Dayeh's mediation, and Weiss's stance, we see that the internal conflict of individuals and the conflict of will of the actors emerge. In this ups and downs dialogue, the main element of the story revolves around the exercise of force and power, with awareness of the possibility of transgression and resistance. The trinity of Ramin, Dayeh, and Weiss, who openly and freely play dice, and each thinks of his own victory in some way or trick, plays a role in this context. In this poem, Weiss is a symbol of defiance and rebellion. He never gives in to fear of threats and intimidation. He is not afraid of social norms and structures, nor of stigma and disgrace. His behavior is full of rebellion and resistance.
Culture and its constituent elements are sometimes used as a speeding machine to achieve the goal, sometimes as an obstacle to slow down the opponent. For example, after a campaign, Shah Mobad first turns to dialogue with his opponent. He tries to soften Shahro's heart with tempting words and promises, and on the other hand, with the help of cultural norms and customs, he also makes him ashamed of his actions.
The social structure and context are considered one of the solid and practical bases in power relations in this system. Accordingly, before any action, even the king tries to justify accepting his action. In the debates and challenges in this text, one of the parties always refers the other to popular judgments about speech and action in order to convince him; or by raising the fear of God and the Hereafter, he tries to turn the rule to his advantage. Finally, Ramin's rebellion and the force of time bring an end to Omar Zard and Shah Mobad, so that fate can disrupt power relations and stamp them with instability.
 

Conclusion

This study attempts to study and analyze the internal relationships of the characters in this story from the perspective of power relations, relying on Michel Foucault’s theory of power relations. Since Weiss and Ramin presents a romantic story of an ancient Persian royal family, according to the traditional and common view of government and the position of the king, it was expected that power would be concentrated in the hands of the king and that others would have no choice but to accept affairs and orders. However, as Foucault believes, power is deeply rooted in the network of society and can be observed in all areas of society and human relations. In this story, power flows in a plural and dispersed form in all classes of society, because all individuals in the field of power try to insist on their positions in order to confirm their possession of power.
The main characters in this poem always behave on the axis of power relations, openly or secretly. Each character, regardless of their hierarchical position, exerts power or resistance against the other depending on the situation and situation of the story, relying on cultural and linguistic elements. Power, resistance, and freedom, as the three main pillars of Foucault's thought, are fully visible from the beginning to the end of this story.
 

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