The Effect of Persian Sufi Thought on English Romantic Poetry: A Case Study of Percy Bysshe Shelley' Alastor or the Spirit of Solitude 

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Department of English Language and Literature, faculty of humanities and social sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan, Iran

2 de

Abstract

This article examines the influence of Persian Sufi thought on Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Alastor, or The Spirit of Solitude." In this research, the concepts of "self" and "other" for achieving the divine spirit, salvation, and spiritual growth are explored through the analysis of the motifs of the "ideal woman" and "harsh nature" in Shelley's poem. The main goal is to recognize the impact of the mystical teachings of Persian Sufi poets such as Hafez, Rumi, Nizami, and Jami on the semantic structure of Shelley's poem. The findings suggest that the Romantic "self's" desire for union with the ideal "other" is shaped through idealization and annihilation (fana), which is rooted in the Persian mystical tradition. Furthermore, encountering harsh and rugged nature, similar to the asceticism of those on the spiritual path, paves the way for spiritual growth and transformation. The motifs of the "veiled woman" and "harsh nature" express the presence of deep mystical themes in Shelley's poem that are aligned with annihilation and dissolution of individuality in the divine truth, and they delineate the path of a spiritual journey in the poem. 

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Persian Language and Literature

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 29 September 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 February 2026
  • Revise Date: 20 June 2026
  • Accept Date: 17 June 2026
  • Publish Date: 29 September 2026

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