The advantages of rewriting and decentering classical literary works

الملخص EN

Classical works are precious works that mesmerize a myriad of readers all over the world.

However, they are not perfect.

This article endeavors to shed light on some rewritten classical works that have been decentered by some authors.

Although rewriting classics seems needless inasmuch as it is based on repetition, this study seeks to vindicate that rewriting is advantageous for both writers and readers.

By using different literary examples and critical perspectives, the analysis reveals that Aimé Césaire in A Tempest writes back to Shakespeare's The Tempest to empower colonized people.

In addition, Jean Rhys in Wide Sargasso Sea revises Bartha's misrepresented image in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.

Moreover, Angela Carter and Carol Ann Duffy rewrite the fairy tale of “Little Red Riding Hood” to give a voice to voiceless women.

Rewriting is also helpful for postmodern authors to demonstrate their literary talents in conveying new postmodern identity issues, like Tom Stoppard decentering Shakespeare's Hamlet in his play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Consequently, there are various merits of rewriting classical literary works and the act of rewriting is necessary rather than repetitive.