Reading Shapes Writing Perfection: An Inner Psychological Struggle Explained

A poetic English interpretation of an Urdu rubāʿī that highlights truth, dignity, and silent pain. The speaker remains honest, but the beloved’s disloyalty makes public praise impossible.

Syed Muhammad Zargham Hameed

12/19/20253 min read

Reading Shapes Writing Perfection: An Inner Psychological Struggle Explained

Even recalling you; brings a sense of shame now.

How can your name be spoken aloud in a public gathering?

Truth has always been my habit; I cannot abandon it.

So how can your name still be called faithful?

When we analyze the speaker’s words through a psychoanalytic lens, we uncover a narrative of emotional pain stemming from betrayal. The speaker is portrayed as an honest and morally strong individual. His suffering arises not from weakness, but from his profound love and strong values. Although the disloyalty of his beloved causes him deep hurt, he maintains his integrity throughout.

First, we can explore the conflict between the Id and the Superego. The Id represents desire and emotion; it craves love, loyalty, and emotional closeness from the beloved. The speaker genuinely loves her and expects sincerity in return. In contrast, the Superego embodies moral values such as honesty and truth. Even after experiencing betrayal, the speaker refuses to lie or pretend that everything is fine. This inner struggle creates pain, but it also reveals the speaker’s strong character, as he chooses truth over comfort.

To protect himself emotionally, the speaker employs a defense mechanism known as reaction formation. Rather than expressing feelings of anger or desperation, he chooses to focus on honesty and moral strength. This approach does not indicate that he is hiding any weaknesses; instead, it demonstrates his ability to manage his emotions with dignity. By emphasizing the importance of truth, he finds a way to rise above feelings of betrayal while maintaining his self-respect.

Through object relations theory, the beloved occupies a significant place in the speaker’s inner world. She symbolizes love, trust, and emotional attachment. When she is unfaithful, it causes the speaker deep pain because he has sincerely invested his feelings in her. Her betrayal does not reflect the speaker’s worth; rather, it indicates her inability to value his loyalty. Despite being wounded, the speaker remains emotionally intact.

This experience results in a narcissistic injury, but it does not destroy the speaker's ego. His pride is wounded because his trust has been betrayed, not because he questions his worth. He is unable to lie about her faithfulness, as doing so would mean accepting dishonesty. By confronting the truth, the speaker safeguards his sense of honor and self-respect.

Upon examining the unconscious mind more closely, we can see that the speaker's focus on truth demonstrates emotional maturity. He does not escape into illusion or false hope; instead, he confronts reality, even when it is painful. This honesty allows him to maintain control over his emotions. Rather than begging for love or denying betrayal, he stands firm in his principles.

The speaker's tone suggests emotional endurance rather than masochism. He does not derive pleasure from pain; instead, he accepts it with patience. He believes that confronting pain honestly is preferable to living with deception. This perspective reflects inner strength and moral clarity. His suffering takes on meaning because it is linked to the pursuit of truth.

From a Jungian perspective, the beloved can be viewed as an anima figure, representing love, emotion, and emotional harmony. Her disloyalty indicates an imbalance, not within the speaker, but in the relationship itself. The speaker remains emotionally aware and conscious, while the beloved does not meet the moral and emotional standards expected of true love.

This concept is closely linked to Urdu and Sufi poetry, where the lover is often depicted as loyal, truthful, and patient, while the beloved may be indifferent or harsh. In this tradition, the lover's greatness is demonstrated through endurance, honesty, and faithfulness. The speaker embodies this ideal perfectly. His suffering underscores the purity of his intentions and the depth of his character.

In conclusion, the speaker is portrayed as a positive and morally upright individual. Although he is deeply hurt by the betrayal of his beloved, he does not succumb to dishonesty or bitterness. Analyzing his behavior through a psychoanalytic lens reveals emotional strength, dignity, and self-control. The poem serves as a powerful testament to how truth and integrity can endure even in the face of betrayal.

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