Myth and legacy: the revolution of blood

Abstract

This thesis considers the Iranian revolution specifically through a focus on Khomeini's revolutionary sermons, and the use of the myth of Ashura in mobilizing support for revolution. The myth of Ashura is the main focus of this study as its history and its epic structure were discerned by Khomeini as the most solid foundation for the revolution. The revolution owes its triumph, to a great degree, to the familiarity of codes and symbols implied in the myth that were used by Khomeini in his revolutionary discourse. Studying the Iranian Revolution demands an understanding based on Khomeini's rhetoric. The thesis moves toward an analysis of the recorded sermons of Khomeini, specifically as they are presented in his published sermons, in his book "Jurisprudential Leadership" and in newspapers published during the time of the revolution. The main focus is on his revolutionary sermons from 1978 till 1980, which marked the beginning of the Iran-Iraq war.