PSYCHOANALYTIC INSIGHTS INTO THE FORMATION AND EXPRESSION OF GENDERED DESIRE:A READING OF ELIF SHAFAK’S THE FORTY RULES OF LOVE”

Abstract

This article examines the formation and expression of gendered desire through a psychoanalytic lens, focusing on Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love. Drawing on Freudian and Lacanian theories, the study investigates how unconscious drives, societal expectations, and cultural norms shape the characters’ experiences of love, longing, and selfhood. By analyzing the complex interplay between desire, repression, and gendered subjectivity, the article highlights how Shafak portrays both the constraints and the possibilities of expressing gendered desire in a patriarchal context. Particular attention is given to the ways in which male and female characters navigate their internal conflicts, emotional vulnerabilities, and relational dynamics, revealing the unconscious mechanisms that govern attraction, attachment, and interpersonal power. Through close reading and psychoanalytic interpretation, this study demonstrates that Shafak’s narrative not only reflects the psychological intricacies of desire but also challenges traditional notions of gender roles and identity formation. Ultimately, the article offers a critical insight into the intersection of psyche, culture, and gender in contemporary literature, showing how literary texts can serve as a lens to understand the unconscious dimensions of human experience.