Barthian Semiotics in Prince Bahram, In search of Gulandama

The paper aims at finding Ronald Barthes’ codes in the short story Prince Bahram, In Search of Gulandama. Using textual analysis, the short story was is analysed in the light of Ronald Barthes five codes. It is found that almost all of Ronald Barthes’ codes: hermeneutic, proairetic, semantic, symbolic and cultural codes are present in the short story. The story has puzzles and enigmas which inspire the readers to read the story in order to answer the unanswered questions. Like other stories, in this short story too, sequence is created through proairetic code. There are implied meanings, which bring forth the semantics code. Paradoxes, where binaries are the most import elements, are represented through symbolic codes. Lastly, there are many cultural elements, showing the cultural code. These different aspects gives a comprehensive narrative structure to the story.