Stories with Homodiegetic Narrators in Saadi’s Work Gulistan
Nihat DeğirmenciSaadi lived in the 13th century in the city of Shiraz, Iran and is not only one of the most famous poets of Persian poetry but also a significant representative of Persian fiction literature. In his work Gulistan [The Rose Garden], he narrates stories he heard around him, read, or experienced himself. Some of these stories feature the author as a character, adding an autobiographical dimension to the narratives. These stories help one understand Saadi’s thoughts and societal views. This study examines the autobiographical stories found in Saadi’s Gulistan. The stories related to Saadi’s childhood provide insights into his family members and early life. These stories also include elements reflecting the societal life and professions of the time. The stories also highlight Saadi’s travels and the places he visited, and this research evaluates these aspects as well. The story where he narrates his dialogue with a merchant allows one to gain insights into the trade practices of that era. This narrative contains details regarding the goods commonly traded during the period from the viewpoint of a merchant. The stories that reflect his interactions with rulers, his thoughts on working with them, and his views on societal classes are also discussed, shedding light on his inner world.
Sa’dî’nin Gülistan Adlı Eserindeki Öykü İçi Anlatıcılı Hikâyeler
Nihat DeğirmenciMiladi on üçüncü yüzyılda İran’ın Şiraz şehrinde yaşamış olan Sa’dî, Fars şiirinin en meşhur şairlerindendir. Şair olmasının yanı sıra Farsça kurmaca edebiyatının da önemli temsilcilerindendir. Sa’dî Gülistan adlı eserinde çevresinde duyduğu, okuduğu veya kendi başından geçen hikâyeleri aktarmıştır. Bu hikayelerin bir kısmında ise yazar bir karakter olarak yer almaktadır. Bu durum hikayelere otobiyografik bir özellik katmaktadır. Bu otobiyografik hikayeler, Sa’dî’nin düşünce dünyasını ve toplumsal görüşlerini anlamamıza yardımcı olur. Bu çalışmada yazarın Gülistan adlı eserindeki otobiyografik özellikte olan bu hikâyeler incelenmiştir. Sa’dî’nin çocukluk dönemine ait hikayeler ve aile fertlerinden bahsettiği hikayelerden onun yaşamı hakkında bilgilere ulaşılmıştır. Bu hikayelerde yer alan ve toplumsal yaşamı yansıtan öğeler ile dönemin sözü geçen meslekleri ortaya konmuştur. Hikayelerde onun yolculukları, bulunduğu yerler de konu edilmiştir, çalışmada bu sonuçlar da değerlendirilmiştir. Bir tacirle olan diyaloğunu anlattığı hikâyede dönemin ticaretine ilişkin fikir edinmek mümkün olmuştur. Bu hikâyede dönemin ticaret mallarına, ticaretin etkin olduğu ülkelere ve ticaret hacmine dair bilgiler bir tüccarın bakış açısından dile getirilmiştir. Ayrıca Sa’dî’nin yöneticilerle ilişkileri ve yöneticilerle çalışma konusundaki fikirleri, toplumsal sınıflara ilişkin görüşleri gibi iç dünyasını yansıtan hikayeler de çalışma kapsamında ele alınmıştır.
Saadi’s work Gulistan [The Rose Garden] is a work that blends both poetry and prose. This work consists of eight chapters and a preface. Each chapter contains stories focused on a particular theme or topic. The stories are written in prose form and also has poems in between. These poems are generally used to emphasize the emotion and idea the stories want to convey.
Gulistan is one of Saadi’s best-known works and has been translated into many languages. André du Rayer’s translation into French in 1636 in particular contributed to Saadi’s recognition in Europe. Likewise, Adam Olearius’ translation into German in 1654 and Stephen Sullivan’s translation into English increased the work’s influence on European and world literature, thus making Saadi a well-known literary figure in Europe.
Gulistan was translated into Turkish in 1391, and many Turkish translations were made in the years that followed. The commentaries and translations made about the work additionally contributed to it becoming an influential work in Turkish literature.
The stories in the work are usually narrated chronologically over a linear timeline. The narration of the stories is sometimes made in the language of a narrator inside the story and other times in the language of a narrator outside the story. This enriches the work with both prose and poetic language.
Saadi’s autobiographical stories reflect different stages of his life and also focus on a variety of topics, such as his relationships with rulers, his experience preaching, his interest in Islamic philosophy, his attitude towards Jews, and his emotional response to the beautiful faces. These autobiographical stories help one understand Saadi’s world of thought and social views.
Based on Saadi’s work Gülistan, this text deals with the various stories and their contents in detail. This text examines these stories, which provide important information about Saadi’s life, thoughts, travels, social life, and various professions. The text draws attention to how Saadi often portrays dervishes in his work in a positive way. Saadi’s travels are also stated to be frequently included in these stories, with various regions, cities, and cultures being introduced in this way.
This text also emphasizes how mosques and places of worship have special importance in Saadi’s work. Saadi is said to have narrated the events, discussions, and sermons in these places. This shows how central a role religion and worship played in the social life of that period. Saadi’s stories are also said to shed light on the professions and social groups of the period, with different professions and social groups such as traders, guides, jewelers, judges, and even thieves taking part in these stories. This shows how Saadi’s work not only has literary value but also contains important information about the social structure and cultural texture of the period.
Saadi did not make much use of female characters in Gulistan’s autobiographical stories. He did not include women in his stories apart from a memory of his mother and the daughter of the person who saved him after he’d been captured. The mosque is the most commonly used place in these stories. This undoubtedly indicates how central the mosque was, both in Saadi’s life as well as in the social life of the period. These stories were told orally by Muslims rather than Jews. Here, the stories where Saadi talks about Jews emerge alongside negative events. He did not want to be neighbors with them and used very derogatory descriptions for them. In addition, Saadi’s cannot be observed to talk about wealth or rich personalities and their characteristics when comparing the rich and the poor. Thus, Saadi’s work not only has literary value but also provides important information about the social structure and cultural existence of the period.
In conclusion, Gülistan is an important milestone among Saadi’s literature. It is considered an important part of both Persian and world literature with its stories and intellectual depths. This work offers readers a rich literary experience as a magnificent combination of both prose and poetry.
