Travel as a Journey of Healing and Self-Transformation in Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love

Abstract

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love (2006) stands as a significant contribution to contemporary autobiographical and travel literature. The memoir narrates a deeply personal process of healing and self-discovery following divorce and emotional upheaval. This research examines how travel functions as a transformative process of healing and identity reconstruction, drawing on feminist theory and autobiographical approaches. Gilbert’s journeys through Italy, India, and Indonesia represent distinct phases of personal growth: rediscovering pleasure, engaging in spiritual reflection, and achieving balance and self-acceptance. The work also interrogates traditional expectations of women, highlighting themes of independence and self- empowerment. Additionally, the study emphasizes storytelling as a therapeutic act, illustrating how autobiographical narrative can facilitate emotional understanding and personal growth. Ultimately, Eat Pray Love emerges not only as a travel memoir but as a story of healing, resilience, and evolving identity