Examining the Elements of Socialist Realism in the Short Story “The Farewell Ceremony” by Gholam-Hossein Sa'edi

The short story The Farewell Ceremony by Gholam-Hossein Sa'edi is a prominent example of socialist realism literature, which critically addresses the social and economic issues of society. This story effectively reflects the key components of socialist realism by portraying the lives of the lower classes, critiquing the capitalist system, and advocating for unity and struggle. In this work, Sa'edi employs characterization, simple language, and a critical perspective on culture and superstitions to effectively convey his message to the reader. This article examines the extent to which The Farewell Ceremony aligns with the principles and elements of socialist realism. By analyzing elements such as character development, narrative setting, storytelling techniques, and the final message, this study aims to determine the position of this work within the context of socialist realism. The findings indicate that although Sa'edi employs realist techniques to depict social realities, The Farewell Ceremony is inconsistent with the objectives and ideals of socialist realism and can be more accurately classified under critical realism