In an interview with Aravot Daily, literary critic Ani Pashayan said that she became very emotional after seeing women’s pictures at the frontlines on social media. The literary critic believes that these women will be the heroines of new written works.
Ani Pashayan spoke to Aravot Daily as part of its Femini series regarding the role of women in Armenian literature. “Our women’s character is very emphasized in The Daredevils of Sasun. They are the strongest women starting from Armaghan. They are not only perfect physically and mentally but also as mothers and women dedicated to their families. For example, Khandut does not live after her husband. Regarding Mher’s wife, Gohar, we can also say that we are dealing with a strong woman. It was Khandut who said that a lion is a lion, whether they are male or female… the heroes of our epics are generally women.
Ani Pashayan
According to Ani Pashayan, the roots of the female character can be seen in future works of writing. It is also possible to see the strength of women in the mother queens, the novels of Vardan Grigoryan and Sero Khanzadyan, and in the prose of Perch Zeytuntsyan and Zorayr Khalapyan. It is even possible to see a strong woman portrayed in Hovhannes Tumanyan’s Anush; Anush goes against the traditions of her family and society and follows her heart. Not caring what other people think is a sign of strength.
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Regarding women’s participation in the Artsakh War of the 1990s, the literary critic spoke about how there was an Anahit battalion named after Anahit Martirosyan. Anahit was portrayed in Alice Hovhannisyan’s stories.
“There are not only men at the frontlines, but women as well. They will also be portrayed in prose because prose strengthens along with the country. The stronger the country, the stronger the prose… prose is a solid form of speech. Of course, the women fighting today will be the heroines of our stories tomorrow. If there is life, then there is literature,” she said.
Aside from several other photos, there are not only photos of beautiful Armenian women being shared on social media, but also those of ethnic minorities. For example, the head of the Yezidi Youth Association of Armenia, Sayid Avdalyan, shared a photo of Dilbar Tevoyeva as part of the first Yezidi volunteer battalion.
Women are heroes in general, whether they are in the rear or the frontlines. The doctors continuing operations even during air raids on the Stepanakert hospital, the woman driving in her ninth month of pregnancy, the Artsakh women who escaped to Armenia while saving their children from gunfire, those fighting against the invisible enemy, COVID-19, and teachers conducting online classes are all heroes.
Gohar Hakobyan
