The Role of Saadi's Philosophical and Ethical Thoughts in Shaping the Rhetorical Structure and Key Concepts of Golestan and Bustan

Abstract

This article analyzes Saadi’s philosophical and ethical thoughts and explores their impact on the rhetorical structure and key concepts in his works, particularly Golestan and Bustan. By utilizing various rhetorical devices and employing simple yet meaningful language, Saadi has successfully conveyed complex philosophical and ethical concepts through short stories and allegories to his audience. This study first examines philosophical concepts such as wisdom, moderation, and rationality, which are recurrently found in Saadi's works, and then investigates how these concepts are interconnected with rhetorical structures such as metaphor, simile, brevity, and repetition. The article also demonstrates how the allegorical structure of Saadi’s tales aids in transmitting ethical and philosophical messages. The findings of the study indicate that Saadi, through the use of rhetorical tools, has effectively communicated ethical concepts in a literary and artistic manner to the reader. Moreover, by comparing the results with previous studies, it shows that earlier research similarly focused on the impact of language and rhetoric in conveying ethical concepts in Saadi’s works. Finally, the article emphasizes the importance of analyzing the connection between rhetoric and philosophy in achieving a deeper understanding of Saadi’s works and suggests future research directions in this field.