An Intertextual Reading of Two Stories from Masnavi Manavi and Decameron

One method of gaining a deep understanding of texts is through examining the interactions between different works. Authors are often influenced by each other's writings, whether intentionally or unintentionally. The focus of the essay is to explore the intertextual reading of two stories: "The Sufi Who Caught His Wife with a Strange Man" from Masnavi Manavi, and the second story from Day Seven of Decameron ("Peronella Hideth a Lover of Hers in a Vat, Upon Her Husband's Unlooked for Return") through the lens of Genet's theory of transtextuality. These two stories share similarities in themes such as unfaithfulness, betrayal, enjoying life, women's cunning, and the fear of scandal. The present research adopts an analytical-comparative approach to compare these two classic works and highlight their commonalities and differences. The research findings suggest that Boccaccio recreated a story from Masnavi Manavi in a remarkable manner within his own tales. The study not only establishes a favorable foundation for comparative analysis but also paves the way for further exploration of Rumi's works.