Abstract

This paper discusses naturalistic features that have “denaturalistic” consequences because of the behaviors of a semihuman character. Sadeq Chubak’s short story, “The Baboon Whose Buffoon Was Dead” or “Antari Ke Lutiash Morde Bud” (original title), reflects many naturalistic theories that refer to pessimism. The paper analyzes the text’s binary oppositions to find “denaturalistic items, which create duality and then misery in a semihuman’s life. Darwinism and existentialism force Iranian naturalist Sadeq Chubak to select a semihuman character and a seemingly dead human who are facing the harsh conditions of semiliberty, which does not bring happiness. Religious themes ring everywhere, and troubled experiences are lamented in the story. Therefore, the character is forced to come back to his formed mind and then is trapped by his own selection, not natural selection.