Human life is full of challenges, and these struggles arise from the very existence of humans. They multiply, transform, and change the course of one’s life. In such times, a person requires deep thinking, guidance, and something that is both logical and emotional, as well as a correct path to follow. It is through literature that these needs can be met. Literature has been promoted with the purpose of improving and correcting the social life of humans, aiming to purify them from their errors.
In literature, attention to the human psyche involves a profound examination of the mind and emotions. Literature is regarded as a powerful tool for expressing the mental, emotional, and intellectual states of human beings. Through poetry, stories, novels, and dramas, literature presents portraits of the human psyche and life.
In literature, caring for the human psyche is an essential principle. The purpose of mental well-being is to solve problems and reduce personal or societal pressures. Both poetic and prose literature tell the stories of those who have faced psychological distress, fear, pain, and various bittersweet memories. Poets express human emotions such as pain, joy, sadness, despair, and other aspects of life in their poems:
“The glory of poetry resides in the heart of sacrifice!
Though circumstances have disfigured our faces,We are not defeated.”
— Nasim Ehsar
Similarly, the poet Ismatullah Asim writes:
“The sorrow doesn’t hide from you, mother,
You see into my heart, while others gaze at my face.”
In these verses, a picture of emotional distress and the comfort of hope is depicted. Even when a person faces many challenges, they still harbor hope for happiness or a solution deep in their heart. This hope prevents the person from losing control of their mental state. Literature can be a tool for addressing human psychological struggles. Through reading, listening, and writing literature, a person can express their emotions in the most fitting words and find peace for their mind. The poetic side of literature helps bring forth one’s emotions and detach them from internal struggles.
The role of literature in psychological treatment is crucial, as it examines the emotions, perceptions, and mental states of individuals. If a person is experiencing sorrow, anxiety, or depression, literature offers a calming path to restore them to their original and healthy state. Literature manages all aspects of society. If a society progresses, if its youth are encouraged to follow the right paths, and if life gains new meaning, literature plays an influential role. It encompasses culture, folklore, communication, books, and the hidden secrets of life, all of which require deep understanding. Throughout history and revolutions, literature has often been used for warfare, as it continues to stir the emotions of people, making it the most effective way to convey their messages and transform their minds.
Poet Rizwanullah Oobrandh expresses:
“They live a restless life,
Who have lived an unchaste life.
I have died of poverty,
Living a life without a mother.”
In these verses, social and psychological pressures on the individual are evident. These pressures represent emotional struggles such as poverty, homelessness, loneliness, and the internal chaos of the psyche. The poem conveys the poet’s personal struggles, anxieties, pains, dissatisfaction with societal judgments, emotional fragility from being orphaned, and the bitter, inescapable image of poverty.
When the psychological state of a person reaches a stage of disturbance, literature provides an outlet for these emotions and helps calm the mind. Another poet, Ajmal Shakili, writes:
“In the locks of my lover’s hair, I place my fingers,
We must try to find a way out of this jungle.
At the peak of grief and hopelessness, we laugh, Ajmal!
We must try to climb this mountain.”
In these verses, the poet unlocks the human spirit with a pursuit of love, effort, and the search for happiness. Literature is not merely a medium to express sorrow and joy; it is a vast field that encompasses hundreds of themes. When exploring education, mysticism, Islamic teachings, social issues, culture, economy, and politics, literature’s scope becomes so broad that entire books can be written on these subjects. In mysticism, for instance, Sadiq Pasrali depicts the psychological state of a person:
“God knows, how the behavior of the ascetic will change,
Even snakes and scorpions pass through the cold in caves.”
The meaning of this verse is that the behavior of many people differs. When faced with difficult times, and when they no longer have any means of searching or expressing themselves, they protect themselves from others like snakes and scorpions. The outward changes in a person’s appearance are based on their own interests and the changing seasons. A deeper interpretation suggests that if a person’s heart is not purified, no external change will bring them true purity.
On a broader scale, whether poetic or prose, literature has been created for the betterment of human life. It discusses the relationships, exchanges, behaviors, and understanding between individuals, portraying their questions, answers, desires, hopes, and dreams in an artistic manner within society. Literature penetrates the human heart, explores new concepts, understands desires, and, in general, studies the hearts of people.
Through the study of literature, a visible transformation occurs in a person’s life, morals, actions, and relationships. This transformation strengthens human cognitive abilities and leads to the correction and improvement of society as a whole.
