Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities

Social classes reflected in attire: epresenting Social Distinctions in the novels Prince Ehtejab and The Neighbors

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Alireza Moradi 1
Elmira Rezaie 2

1 Assistant Professor of Sociology, Department of Cultural Studies, Institute for Social and Cultural Studies. Tehran, Iran

2 Master of Textile and Clothing Design, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22035/isih.2026.5696.5265
Abstract
Focusing on the two novels Prince Ehtejab and The Neighbors, this study examines the role of dress in reflecting the class structures of Iranian society within these narratives. The principal aim of the research is to analyze how dress is employed to depict class differences, reinforce or contest social norms, and attain a deeper understanding of the structures of power within society. To examine the relationship among language, power, and social structures in the two novels, this study employs a critical discourse analysis approach. The findings reveal that dress is not merely a superficial element but a potent instrument for representing and critiquing class structures. In both novels, dress is deployed to differentiate among distinct social classes, reinforce social norms, and signal historical-social transformations. In Prince Ehtejab, for instance, attire clearly delineates the divide between the aristocracy and the subaltern classes, whereas in The Neighbors, dress functions as a symbol of poverty and deprivation. This study demonstrates that both novels, through dress, engage in the representation of existing socio-class structures, albeit with differing intensities and methods. Overall, the present study underscores the significance of dress as a symbolic instrument for a deeper understanding of the social and class structures within modern Persian literature.

Keywords

critical discourse analysis
Prince Ehtejab
The Neighbors
dress
social classes
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 24 April 2026
  • Revise Date 23 July 2026
  • Accept Date 01 August 2026

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