Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 17، number In Volume 8، November 2024 ، issue Number 102

Gertrude Bell's translation of Hafez's sonnets: Sufi or non-Sufi reading

Fatemeh Saeedi , Leila Hashemian (Author in Charge)

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hafez"s poems have a worldwide reputation among researchers and poets and have fascinated many researchers. Gertrude Bell, traveler and orientalist, is also one of these enthusiasts. But, after a short acquaintance with Persian language and literature, he became fascinated with Persian culture and language and found a deep and unbreakable connection with Khwaja Shiraz, and from this passerby, he turned to the translation of forty-two ghazals and one quartet by Hafez. Bell believed that Hafez"s words and thought have a different meaning for western readers than what eastern readers get from it, and that the ethics of Hafez"s time are different from the moral system of our time, and that the customs and conduct of the East do not have much affinity with the West, and that The reflection and perpetuity of every belief and opinion of Divan Hafez depends on the reader"s reading, and probably each reader will reach a different result. Since Gertrude Bell in her comments and description of Hafez"s poetry, sometimes talks about contradictory words and in some cases she does not specify her position regarding the Sufi or non-Sufi interpretation of Hafez"s sonnets, therefore, in this research, we focused on it. According to the model of Andre Lefebvre"s seven techniques of translation, we will investigate this issue.

METHODOLOGY: This research was done in a descriptive-analytical way. The authors have tried to analyze 15 ghazals from the Sufi and non-Sufi readings of Bell"s translation with the method of content analysis and library method, which is more related to the subject of the research and for the purpose of this article. have been more appropriate

FINDINGS: In the translation of this sonnet, the number of verses has increased, as if the translator was trying to explain and understand the subject better. Some verses have been moved in the translation.

CONCLUSION: Bell"s interpretation of the sonnets and his reading in the translation of Hafez"s poems is mostly a non-Sufi reading and does not attempt to show Hafez"s thought mystically and Sufily. He likes the outward meaning and gets a lot of pleasure from it. In these 15 analyzed ghazals, Bel had a Sufi interpretation in the translation of 6 ghazals, and in 9 translations, his interpretation of Hafez"s speech was non-Sufi. Bell"s reading of Hafez and his sonnets, according to his own words, is not Sufi and does not introduce him as a religious teacher.

Keyword
Hafez , Gertrude Bell , Hafez , Sufi reading , translation.

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