Levan Geladze's Poem Gunesh

Abstract

Levan Geladze was a distinguished twentieth-century poet and public figure. He is the author of numerous poems and articles. Although a physician by profession, he also cared deeply about the spiritual development of the society. His work is distinguished by its engaging character and meaningful content.
In addition to his poems and newspaper articles, Levan Geladze authored the poem Gunesh, which is remarkable both for its poetic form and its thematic content.
From the very beginning of the poem, two characters are introduced: Nuri Beg and Harun, who are old friends who have shared many hardships together. Harun asks Nuri Beg for the hand of his only daughter, Gunesh, in marriage.
This promise had been made by the friends long before: when they fought together against Memed-Beg, Nuri was wounded and his life was saved by Harun. At that moment the friends agreed that they would unite their families through the marriage of their children and that their friendship would thus continue.
Through a single narrative episode, Levan Geladze illustrates a broader problem: outdated customs and traditions hinder the younger generation’s development, freedom, and capacity for independent thought. Empty pride proves destructive; when the welfare of a family and the future of a child are at stake, the willingness to step back may elevate a person rather than humiliate them. One of the author’s principal intentions was to bring Aslan, a representative of the younger generation, to an awareness of this truth. In doing so, the author demonstrates the triumph of the new over the old. Although achieved at the cost of great sacrifice, great undertakings often demand great sacrifice.
Levan Geladze’s poem Gunesh depicts the confrontation between the old and the new and challenges established social stereotypes. A compelling parallel may be drawn between Geladze’s Gunesh, Vazha-Pshavela’s Aluda Ketelauri, and Jemal Karchkhadze’s Igi. Gunesh is an outstanding poetic work that deserves further comprehensive scholarly research.