The Ineluctable Chords of Forty and Ella’s Journey from Nausea to Madhab-i-Ishq to Eudaimonia: Prismatic Effects of Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love
Abstract
Elif Shafak’s novella, The Forty Rules of Love, published in March 2009, explores the identity of
one’s existence through a spiritual transformation. Sufi mysticism, which Ella has discovered, transports her on
an adventurous and exotic voyage of life. In this incredibly positive tale, a sense of belonging and purpose in
one’s life is instilled in the mind of the readers. A jar of Love will never be able to contain or define Love.
Everything about it is limitless and brimming with Rahma (mercy). It is a narrative of a lost soul discovering
serenity in Love, exploring the meaning of life, and re-inventing why she is still living. The recompensation for
every annihilation is a cleansing of the soul, according to Sufism. Through the prism of Sufism, this paper seeks
to understand Ella’s transition from Nausea to Madhab-i-Ishq to Eudaimonia and to bridge several of Tabrizi’s
rules with Islamic beliefs and understanding.
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Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | British and Irish Language, Literature and Culture, Literary Studies, Literary Theory |
| Journal Section | Research Article |
| Authors | |
| Submission Date | September 12, 2021 |
| Publication Date | February 21, 2022 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2022 Issue: 1 |