Those who saw the abyss : Gilgamesh and Hamlet

Abstract EN

The following is an attempt to see the parallels and resemblances between the Sumerian classic epic, Gilgamesh, and the Renaissance Shakespearian Hamlet.

It begins with an explanation of the reasons behind such an unusual topic and the methodology followed through out.

It traces the common points between them in terms of underlying patterns, characterization, male friendships, and the destructive roles of women.

In themes and concepts about the human predicament and how man is virtually helpless as regards what lies in store for him, the two texts have much in common as the following pages will show.

It may sound, at face value, uncommon if not peculiar altogether to have those two different characters yoked in a research paper, given their striking differences in culture, religion, time, or artistic mode and views of man and the universe.

Gilgamesh is deeply rooted in the thought and conventions of Mesopotamian life 2000 B.C.

while Hamlet celebrates the Christian Renaissance and perhaps medieval mode of thinking.

But a close reading of the two texts and their details soon disperses such misgivings and apprehensions as there are many common points of interest that can not escape the discerning eye.

There is a need, however, to set a methodological point in advance.

The present reading does not seek to establish any historical evidence or contact or indirect effect between the two and the influence of one on the other.

The history of Gilgamesh and Hamlet has been a fertile field for hundreds of historians, archeologists, critics and researchers.

In the case of the latter, the findings are still inconclusive and speculative as regards the origins of Hamlet which are traced to the ancient Norse legends and even classical and archaic echoes.

(1) The act of comparison adopted here takes its cue from the renowned discussion of the American critic Rene Wellek of what he calls the“ crisis of comparative literature” when he asserts that “ The whole conception of fenced-off reservations with signs of “ no trespassing” must be distasteful to a free mind.

” (2) Indeed the pursuit of “ recurrent structures” has been taken as the main