Narrator, “Where did the handsome beloved go?”
The sole storyteller—and primary character—of this poem is the unnamed narrator. Unlike most of Rumi’s poems, it can be assumed that the narrator of this poem is a woman. This narrator recounts her heartbreak at having lost her “beloved.” Though it is unclear whether this beloved has left by choice or has died, it is clear that his absence is felt by the narrator. She spent her every waking moment searching blindly, hopelessly for her beloved. The narrator embodies the heartache and danger of love; her love for her lost beloved has driven her to the point of insanity.
Narrator’s Lost Love, “Where did the handsome beloved go?”
Though little is known about the narrator’s beloved, his presence is felt throughout the entirety of the poem. The narrator never explicitly states whether her love left her purposefully or whether he was taken by some unknown factor—such as illness, family, or death. What is known, however, is that the narrator was madly in love with this character. The lost love is the very reason for this poem; if it were not for him, the narrator would have no reason to grieve and wander aimlessly. He is the source of the narrator’s grief and sorrow.
Traveler, “Where did the handsome beloved go?”
Though the traveler appears in this poem for merely one stanza, he/she plays an important role. This character has no relation to the narrator and yet plays an important role. This unnamed character solidifies in the readers minds that the narrator is so desperate to find her lost love that she will ask anyone—even a mere traveler—if they know about his whereabouts.
Gardener, “Where did the handsome beloved go?”
Just like The Traveler, this seemingly insignificant character remains unnamed. Though this character only appears for a short stanza, it also helps to solidify the narrator’s desperation for anyone—even a lowly gardener—to help her in her search for her lost love.
Narrator, “Love is the Master”
Rumi once again offers his readers a mysterious and unnamed narrator. This poem—which stresses the importance of love in our lives—is narrated by a storyteller who appears to be very wise and retrospective. The narrator understands the importance of love and is wise enough to understand that a life without love is empty, sorrowful, and meaningless. It can also be concluded the narrator is a religious individual, as he/she suggests that God is the very definition and embodiment of love. The narrator appears to have an intense understanding into this fact and is keen to share this knowledge with the world.
Narrator, “The Water of Life”
Rumi once again depicts a nameless, faceless, and genderless narrator—one who longs to share his/her wisdom with the readers. Much like Rumi’s other narrators, the narrator of “The Water of Life” appears to a wise, rather all-knowing character who has discovered that the secret to a relaxed, joyous, and successful life is love. This narrator also suggests that the “water of life”—which is love—can only be attained through God. Rather, God is the definition of love and is therefore the water of life himself. Somehow, the narrator has discovered this realization and wishes to share it with the readers.
