Journal Article

Liquid Love and the Quest for Connection in My Heart and other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

حجازي، عصام عبدالحميد إبراهيم

2025

Overview

This research explores the application of Zygmunt Bauman's concept of \"liquid love\" within the context of Jasmine Warga's novel *My Heart and Other Black Holes*. Bauman's theory, which describes love as transient, unstable, and shaped by the fluidity of modern social relationships, provides a framework for analyzing the emotional dynamics between the novel's protagonists, Aysel and Roman. Through their suicide pact, the novel examines the fragility of modern romantic connections and the ways in which personal traumas, societal pressures, and mental health issues influence the formation and dissolution of intimate relationships. The research delves into the complex portrayal of love and alienation in the novel, positioning Bauman's thesis of liquid love alongside critical readings of young adult fiction that addresses mental health. It argues that the instability and impermanence of Aysel and Roman's relationship reflect broader societal trends in which emotional bonds are increasingly shaped by individualism and a consumerist approach to intimacy. In addition, the study highlights the psychological implications of liquid love, particularly in the context of identity formation, self-esteem, and the characters' shared experience of alienation. This interdisciplinary analysis contributes to both literary and sociological scholarship by connecting Bauman's theoretical framework with contemporary narratives of youth and mental health in fiction. It suggests that *My Heart and Other Black Holes* offers an example of how liquid love manifests in modern relationships, while also challenging traditional understandings of love, identity, and societal expectations in the fluid age.

• Publisher: جامعة كفر الشيخ - كلية الآداب
• Subject: أدب الشباب / الديناميكيات العاطفية / الصحة النفسية / العلاقات الاجتماعية