Tracing The Main Characters’ Wounds and Healing in Love from A to Z

Abstract

This study explores the psychological conflicts of the main character,
Zayneb, in S.K. Ali’s Love from A to Z (2019) and how her relationship
with Adam acts as a healing mechanism. Through a descriptive
qualitative analysis supported by psychoanalytic concepts, the study
attempts to analyze the psychological and traumatic experiences and
the emotional weaknesses of the characters. Zayneb's psychological
pain primarily results from her experience of discrimination and for
Adam, it’s his experience of illness; however, the source of emotional
healing and acceptance for both of them is the love they share. The
novel indicates that love, apart from the romantic trope, acts as a
means of emotional restoration and therapeutic change. This study
highlights the healing power of emotional bonds and encourages the
novel's contribution to discussions around self-healing and identity in
young adult fiction in contemporary literature.