A Narratological Analysis of Jennī Lu‘bat as an Imaginary Other in Rūzbihān Shīrāzī’s Abhar al-‘Āshiqīn

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

PhD in Persian language and literature, Shiraz University

10.29252/kavosh.2026.23834.3777

Abstract

This article presents a narratological analysis of the experience of love in Abhar al-‘Āshiqīn, with a special focus on the character Jannī La‘bat and her interactions with the narrator. The study aims to examine how human and divine love are constituted through dialogue, erotic desire, the lover’s rejection, and ultimately the formation of reciprocal love. The analysis is grounded in four theoretical frameworks: Gérard Genette (narrative structure), Tzvetan Todorov (narrative pattern and crisis–resolution), Paul Ricoeur (hermeneutics and living metaphor), and Mieke Bal (narrative semiotics). Findings show that the narrative, moving from the narrator’s initial encounter with Jannī La‘bat to the production of Abhar al-‘Āshiqīn, exhibits a multilayered and interwoven structure encompassing temporal, focal, semantic, and semiotic dimensions. The lover’s desire and Jannī La‘bat’s refusal function as a crucial narrative tension, enabling the development of reciprocal love and the creation of a meaningful text. Through this process, Jannī La‘bat’s role evolves from the object of desire to an agent of meaning, guiding the narrative toward the synthesis of human and divine love. This progression reveals the complexity of character interactions, the transformation of the narrative from individual experience to shared experience, and the role of dialogue and trial in consolidating meaning and narrative structure, allowing for a multilayered reading and reflection on the concepts of love and spirituality.
 

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References

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Journal of Kavoshnameh in Persian Language and Literature
Volume 27, Issue 68
June 2026
Pages 163-199

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