Concept

The Allegory of the Glass-Carrying Donkey and the Fragility of Life

In Farid al-Din Attar's Asrar Nameh, the tale of a master carefully driving a donkey laden with fragile glass serves as a profound allegory for the precariousness of human life. When questioned about his extreme caution and slow pace, the master explains that if the donkey stumbles, his precious cargo will be utterly destroyed. Attar uses this vivid imagery to illustrate how human existence is inherently fragile and ephemeral. The parable acts as a memento mori, comparing the delicate glass to human life, which is constantly exposed to the sudden and inevitable approach of death, urging the reader to recognize the transience of their worldly existence.

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Updated 2026-07-03

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Humanities

Literature

Persian Literature Prerequisite Course