The Concept of Love in the Novel Al-Nabiyy by Kahlil Gibran: A Literary Psychological Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21512/lc.v20i1.13730Keywords:
love theory, Robert J. Sternberg, triangular theory of love, passion, commitment, Al-Nabiyy, literary psychology, symbolic fictionAbstract
Love is a universal theme that serves not only as a subject of psychological inquiry but also as a central foundation in various literary works. This study aims to analyze the representation of the concept of love in Al-Nabiyy, a novel by Kahlil Gibran, using Robert J. Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love, which comprises three main components: passion, intimacy, and commitment. This research employs a descriptive-analytical method with a literary psychology approach. Data were collected from narrative quotations in the translated version of The Prophet (2022), then classified and analyzed based on the three components of love. The findings indicate that passion in the novel is depicted as a burning emotional and spiritual force that does not demand possession; it exists purely and freely. Intimacy is portrayed through relationships characterized by empathy, emotional closeness, and openness, particularly in Al-Musthafa’s counsel to the people of Orphalese. Commitment is represented through teachings of love that support togetherness without erasing individuality, reflecting a conscious choice to love in a balanced manner between independence and attachment. This study concludes that the concept of love in Al-Nabiyy is transcendental: it is not merely a human emotion but also a spiritual path toward harmony and self-purification.
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