Social criticism and enlightenment in the satirical work of Seyid Azim Shirvani

Abstract

 Seyid Azim Shirvani, as one of the prominent enlighteners of 19th century Azerbaijani literature, played an important role in our satirical poetry. The poet's satirical work was aimed at the struggle against backwardness, ignorance, hypocrisy and injustice. Writing in a simple, understandable language, Seyid Azim Shirvani called on the people to enlightenment and tried to awaken them from the sleep of ignorance. In his works, Seyid Azim Shirvani, who emphasized the ideas of enlightenment and human-worldly thinking, used satire not only as a target for laughter, but also as a means of social criticism and reform. He criticized the main social evils of the time, such as illiteracy, hypocrisy, religious fantasy, and violation of women's rights, and emphasized the superiority of enlightenment and reason. The poet's satirical poems are of particular importance in the development of national awakening and critical realism in Azerbaijani literature.