Aesthetic Analysis of Moral Conflicts in Romantic Epics from Kant's Perspective (Case Study: Khosrow and Shirin, Helen and Paris)

Borajani, Narges Soleiman Pour; Ahsant, Setareh

doi:10.5281/zenodo.21834064

Aesthetic Analysis of Moral Conflicts in Romantic Epics from Kant's Perspective (Case Study: Khosrow and Shirin, Helen and Paris)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Narges Soleiman pour Borajani ¹

Setareh Ahsant ²

¹ M.A. in Art Research, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Art Research, Apadana Institute of Higher Education, Shiraz, Iran

10.5281/zenodo.21834064

Abstract

Romantic epics in world literature often serve as arenas for the representation of conflicts between love, duty, and morality. Beyond their narrative dimensions, these conflicts are also amenable to analysis from the perspective of moral philosophy. One of the most significant theoretical frameworks for examining such tensions is the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant, which emphasizes the primacy of practical reason and the principle of duty. The present study, employing a descriptive-analytical method with a comparative approach and relying on library-based research, draws upon Kant's theory of ethics and aesthetics to investigate moral conflicts in two prominent examples of romantic epics in world literature: the story of Khosrow and Shirin in Persian literature and the narrative of Paris and Helen in the Iliad. The central question is how the conflict between moral imperatives and the aesthetic allure of love can be explained in these two narratives. The findings indicate that in both narratives, love as an aesthetic and emotional force stands in opposition to moral and social obligations; however, the manner in which characters confront this conflict differs. In the epic of Khosrow and Shirin, the characters ultimately approach a kind of equilibrium between love and morality, whereas in the narrative of Paris and Helen, the predominance of personal desire over moral duty leads to tragic consequences. This difference reflects the cultural and moral distinctions between the two literary traditions, which can be elucidated from the perspective of comparative literature.

Graphical Abstract

Aesthetic Analysis of Moral Conflicts in Romantic Epics from Kants Perspective (Case Study: Khosrow and Shirin, Helen and Paris)

Keywords

Aesthetics

Moral conflict

Kantian ethics

Romantic epics

Khosrow and Shirin

Paris and Helen

Subjects

Persian Language and Literature

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