The Meaning of Individuality and Tragic Balance in Hafiz Poems

A Review of Hafiz Poems according to Dionysian and Apollonian in Nietzsche’s Philosophy of Art

Ahmad Ali Heydari¹, Ali Azizian²

¹   Professor of philosophy in Allameh Tabataba'i University (responsible Author) E-mail: aaheydari@atu.ac.ir

²   Ph.D. student of philosophy of art in Allameh Tabataba'i University. E-mail: azizian931@atu.ac.ir

Abstract

Tragic balance in art philosophy of Nietzsche consisting of summation of Dionysian and Apollonian and balance between them. Dionysian is will to unity with Origin and affirming to it and Apollonian is the same affirming in the life form. Move to be united with Origin in Dionysian mode in Hafiz poem and theosophical tradition is mystic intoxication one that is symbolized with wine and cupbearer. Traditionally in theosophy, move to be united with Origin and finitude in it, is always the absolute value. But Tragic is different. Tragic at the same time with reserve this will, inquire the Origin in the emanations of it as nature and life and individuality. The tragic balance should be known as affirming of all aspects of being, this in Hafiz poems equal with contentedness and libertinism. Hafiz against the whole tradition of Sophism that was altogether upon ebriety or sobriety, it means in the direction of finitude in God or asceticism and hypocrisy, or an insipid mixture of them; represented a solution to remain in the tragic scene of being, not infinitude but in contentedness that is resulting from libertinism, partake from intoxication of presenting in presence of being.

Keywords: Tragic, Apollonian, Dionysian, Hafiz, “Rendi” (libertinism).

1-   Introduction

Dionysian for Nietzsche, in brief, is the intoxication of releasing of affirming powers of the Origin and Apollonian is the same affirmation in the form of nature and individuality in the cover of beautiful imagination. Dionysian is inquiring the Origin within the whole of being and Apollonian is limiting that in the internal limitations and appropriateness. Nietzsche also believes that tragic is the summation of these two.

2-   The base of reasoning in this Article

The base of reasoning in this article is in one hand interpreting the terms of Hafiz with the Dionysian and Apollonian in Nietzsche’s art philosophy. On the other hand the tragic balance of theme that is in Hafiz explaining with a summation of these terms that are separated in Dionysian and Apollonian at first.

3-   Terminology of Hafiz

 In explanation of Dionysian and Apollonian in Hafiz, Dionysian is equal to the term “saqi” (cupbearer) and Apollonian is equal to “shahed” (laddie, beautiful) as “saqi” thematically connected with the intoxication of unity with the Origin and “shahed” referred to the beauty of emanations of the Origin.

3-1 Theosophical terms

 “jalal” (dignity) and “jamal” (beauty) referring to Dionysian and Apollonian for the first term connected with direfulness of encountering with the origin and second one, referring to the beauty of emanations of it. Tragic balance that in Nietzsche is the balance between Dionysian and Apollonian in Hafiz is the summation of “saqi” and “shahed” and also “jalal” and “jamal” and also with some other of symbols that refer to Dionysian and Apollonian.

3-2 Mythological terms

 The tragic balance also explained in Hafiz with mythological and cultural symbols. For example “Mithra” that is the Persian equal of Apollo in hafiz poems exists with the name “mehr” and many symbols of it and Dionysus although hasn’t any equal in Persian mythology but hafiz with pointing to Indian and Arabic culture and some Dionysian symbols like “moon” refer to it.

3-3 Criticizing the Sophism tradition

 Hafiz found the tragic condition and the individuality that connected with it, by criticizing the Sophism tradition that was altogether upon ebriety or sobriety, it means in the direction of finitude in God or asceticism and hypocrisy, or an insipid mixture of them. He represented a solution to remain in the tragic scene of being, not infinitude but in contentedness that is resulting from libertinism, partake from the intoxication of presenting in the presence of being.

3-4 Rendi

 This solution came from the libertines (Rendi) that was giving up the asceticism and hypocrisy and also finitude in God. It was upon contentedness and affirming of life in any condition. This affirming lead hafiz to tragic and its individuality and made him profound in it. So he changed the “shahed” with “mogbache” (Mog laddie) that is more referring to tragic condition and individuality. Because “shahed” referred to nature but “mogbache” didn’t refer to nature and considered individuality as Apollonian that should be balanced with Dionysian.

4-   Conclusion

We research tragic balance in Hafiz poems with considering the meaning and construction of theme. We see how tragic are Paradox, Irony, amphibology, metaphor and some other figures of speech in Hafiz poems. The paradox in his poems is because of considering Dionysian and Apollonian in the same thing or condition. Amphibology and metaphor are also referring to theme and irony in his poems are because of his tragic condition and individuality that can’t be compared with the great power of affirming of the Origin.

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