Introduction
Zahhak is a well-known antagonist in the Shahnameh. Throughout his story, he commits all sorts of evil deeds: he rules with violence and fear, practices black magic, and kills countless people to feed the snakes on his shoulders. Perhaps this is what he is best known for, since he is also known as the Snake King. Zahhak is presented as an evil person, and one can see him behaving in truly monstrous ways, but he is not called a monster until the snakes grow on his shoulders. In one passage of the story, Kaveh, a blacksmith who is tired of the king’s tyranny, asks him if he is a king or a monster. He does this after his son is captured to be killed and fed to the king’s snakes. After questioning the king’s nature, he accuses the elders of the council of being under the evil king's control, and states that he will not yield to him (The Shahnameh, 997).
This scene is depicted in a late 16th-century Shahnameh manuscript. The folio shows Kaveh complaining to the king. The image also portrays Zahhak with small snakes on his shoulders. This shows that despite his monstrous features, Zahhak is still viewed as a human. Therefore, the passage shows that a human becoming a monster blurs the line between monstrosity and humanity. The reason for this is that it becomes difficult to identify the moment when Zahhak stops being a human and starts being a monster.
Passage from The Story of Kaveh the Blacksmith and Zahhak the Arab:
Out of fear of Zahhak, the great men gathered there witnessed the
document; young and old, they signed their names to that evil monster's
claims. At this moment the cries of someone demanding justice were
heard at the door; the plaintiff was brought in and given a place in front of
the nobles present. Zahhak frowned and said to him, "Tell us who has
been unjust to you."
"T'm Kaveh, and a blacksmith, sire," he said,
And as he spoke his clenched fists struck his head.
'"It's you whom I accuse, you are the one
Whose fire's destroyed all that I've ever done.
A king then, or a monster? Which are you?
Tell us, your majesty, which of the two?
If you reign over severl*ingdoms, why
Must our fate be to suffer and to die?
Acquit yourself then, let me weigh your worth,
And let your words astonish all the earth;
And when we 've heard you out we'll see
The evils that the world has done to me,
And why it is my son's brains have to feed
Your snakes insatiable and monstrous greed."
Zahhak was astonished to hear such language; he returned Kaveh's son to
him and tried to win him over by flattering words. Then he ordered Kaveh
to sign the testament. But when Kaveh had read the document through, he
turned to the assembled elders:
"You're in the demons clutches now,* he roared,
"Your evil hearts no longer fear the Lord,
And all your faces are set fair for hell;
Tour hearts believe Zahhak, you wish him well,
But I will never sign, or give a thought
To this corrupted tyrant and his court,