LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:7 July 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Forty Rules of Love as a Bildungsroman

Sumaya Firdous, Ph.D. Scholar

Abstract

A particularly impressing ‘novel of formation’ by Turkish writer Elif Shafak, The Forty Rules of Love follows the parallel life paths of Rumi and Shams Tabrez, a famous pair in the thirteenth century vis-à-vis Ella - a Massachusetts house wife with her first editing job and Aziz Zahara, whose globe-trotting book she is reading. The novel tells the story of Rumi and Shams through the eyes of the characters around.

The novel is a perfect Bildungsroman as also a complete study in opposites—discipline versus spontaneity, reason versus love, perspective versus acceptance, wisdom versus youth, foundation versus risk and brain versus heart. While the novel argues strongly in favour of heart, love, acceptance and spontaneity, it also favours a balance between the two extremes and that is what matters the most. However, this balance could be achieved only by adhering to the basic Sufi principles.

The novel clearly gives a frank treatment of the dangers of the spiritual path. One can hardly ignore appreciating this ‘novel of education’ in its honest and direct treatment of that place, people, era and the deep confusion and pain it can bring to the seeker and those close to them and of course that beauty and wisdom that come from that difficult experience. The novel displays an elegant language to intercept the effect that these parallel soul mates - Rumi and Shams, Ella and Aziz—had on each other and that is what forms the essence of this novel.

Sufism and Elif Shafak

Courtesy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elif_%C5%9Eafak

Elif Shafak, the famous Turkish writer has always been greatly influenced by the tenets of Sufism and as such, it is natural that Sufi thoughts and principles should figure directly in her novels. This bond with Sufism has further intensified over the years. Be it her first novel in Turkish, Pinhan or The Bastard of Istanbul or The Forty Rules of Love—all stand a testimony to the author’s deep penchant for the Sufi way of life. Sufism is close to the author’s heart. The novel discusses the ancient philosophy at length which becomes instrumental in changing the life of Ella, a contemporary American housewife. And yet, it is one of the best seller books throughout, equally popular among the young and the old alike.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Sumaya Firdous, Ph.D. Scholar
B.P.S. Mahila Vishwavidhyalaya, Khanpur Kalan
Sonepat (Haryana)
India
sumaya2050@gmail.com
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