Abstract:

This study performs a comparative analysis between the novel Surname by Aziz Nesin (2021), an important writer in contemporary Turkish literature, and the story Sentenced to Death by Ali Mohammad Afghani (2000), one of the leading writers of contemporary Iranian literature. The study discussed how both authors in their works convey the last moments of a death row prisoner, the change and development of human beings over time, and their thoughts on capital punishment. These two writers have similar approaches to the issue of death and human beings yet dealt with these subjects in two different ways in their works. The two common features of these two works are the cultural information they contain. Capital punishment is a type of punishment given to various crimes and has led to debates in both Iranian and Turkish society over the years. In addition, the status and issues of women in society are mentioned in these two authors’ works, despite not being among the main characters. These works criticize violence against women, women’s rights, and the effect of capital punishment on the family. By comparing the works of Aziz Nesin and Ali Mohammad Afghani as two authors who’ve both written work in the field of social reality in their countries and therefore have paid attention to social issues, this article actually compares the thoughts of a large part of both communities regarding these subjects. After examining the works, the study arrives at a comparative conclusion by including the research that has been written on other works from these authors, as well as their perspectives on life..