From Repression to Ruin: A Study of Patriarchy and Female Trauma in Marjan Kamali'sThe Stationery Shop of Tehran

Abstract

Trauma, particularly as experienced by women in patriarchal societies, is a recurring theme in literature that offers profound insights into the intersections of gender, psychology, and cultural norms. In patriarchal frameworks, women often carry the burden of societal expectations and personal sacrifices, leading to unresolved psychological wounds that manifest in their relationships and choices. Marjan Kamali's ‘The Stationery Shop of Tehran’ provides a poignant exploration of these themes, particularly through the character of Badri,whose unresolved trauma, experiences of betrayal and repression shape the trajectory of the story. Rather than positioning Badri merely as an antagonist, the paper re-reads her as a deeply wounded woman.Her unresolved trauma and internalized fears not only define her identity but also disrupt the lives of those around her, particularly her son, Bahman, and his beloved, Roya.