Metaphores of Love in Elif Shafak's "There are Rivers in the Sky"

Abstract

The present article explores the conceptual mappings of human experiences and their love stories thorough the lens of a metaphoric paradigm in the latest novel written by Elif Shafak, "There are Rivers in The Sky". Following the theoretical cognitive-semantic studies of George Lakoff, Mark Johnson, and others, the article depicts the conceptual metaphors of unfulfilled love along the narrative involving two ohf the three main characters – Arthur and Zaleekhah. Unfulfilled love is a timeless theme in literature, often linked to the archetype of the hero. When unfulfilled love drives the hero's journey, it can profoundly shape their motivations, inner conflicts, and sense of purpose. This motif highlights both the nobility and the tragedy inherent in striving for something unattainable, especially when that something is love. LOVE IS A JOURNEY is explored throughout the article in tis various conceptual instances: UNFULFILLED LOVE IS A JOURNEY, LOVE IS WORSHIP, LOVE IS PAIN, LOVE IS RESEARCH and many others. Unfulfilled love is often linked to tragic heroes, whose inability to attain love mirrors their larger struggles with destiny or personal flaws, and in this case, Arthur and Zaleekhah become tragic heroes who undergo the emotional tension of either Zaleekhah's relationship failure, or Arthur's loveless relationship and internal conflicts through their sacrifices in the name of pure love.