The King in Disguise: A Look at the Mathnawi’s Story of Sultan Mahmud and the Night Thieves

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Semnan University

Abstract

The story of Sultan Mahmud and the Night Thieves in the last book of the Mathnawi, for which no source has yet been found, is one of the most complex and unique examples of disguising in our narrative heritage. Wearing a disguise, especially the Sultan's disguise, and even more unique, his association with thieves, are familiar motifs that the world's fictional heritage reflects. Disguising can be viewed from various perspectives, both as a personal and adventurous individual experience and in terms of confronting lesser-known aspects of society, as well as a unique narrative situation. In Rumi's narrative, a collection of these points can be found. These points have both social and personal dimensions. He also considers fresh perspectives in the story. Rumi's innovative outlook is derived from his distinguished mystical interpretation. He ties the story to the mystics' interpretation of the apparent and hidden senses and the transformation of bodily senses into hidden ones. He especially emphasizes the significance of the eye and vision, which, of course, has a metaphorical aspect. This analogy mainly signifies the authenticity of perception, facing certainties, having a viewpoint, and giving consideration. In this text, after a general introduction to the aspects of disguising and attention to the universality and importance of this motif in our narrative heritage and the poems of Attar and Rumi's Mathnawi, we examine this specific story from narrative, psychological, sociological, and mystical allegory perspectives and contemplate the connection of these aspects with each other.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Literature in the Iraqi period

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 March 2024

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