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Those who saw the abyss : Gilgamesh and Hamlet
Other Title(s)
محاولة لتبيان أوجه التشابه والتوازي بين الملحمة السومرية الكلاسيكية : جلجامش ومسرحية "هاملت" في عصر النهضة
Author
Source
Issue
Vol. 3, Issue 1 (30 Jun. 2006), pp.25-44, 20 p.
Publisher
Association of Arab universities The Scientific Society of Faculties of Arts
Publication Date
2006-06-30
Country of Publication
Jordan
No. of Pages
20
Main Subjects
Comparative Literature
Literature
Topics
Abstract AR
البحث التالي محاولة لتبيان أوجه التشابه و التوازي بين الملحمة السومرية الكلاسيكية، جلجامش و مسرحية "هاملت" في عصر النهضة.
يبدأ البحث بتوضيح الأسباب الكامنة وراء مثل هذا الموضوع الخارج عن المألوف و المنهجية التي اعتمدها.
و يسعى إلى رصد النقاط الأساسية في التشخيص و الصداقات بين الرجال و الأدوار الضارة التي تضطلع بها المرآة في كلا العملين.
و كما توضح الصفحات التالية أن العملين يشتركان بالمواضيع و المفاهيم حول الوضع الإنساني و عجز الإنسان إزاء ما تخفي له الأيام من مكابدات.
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
American Psychological Association (APA)
al-Sadun, Sabbar Sultan. 2006. Those who saw the abyss : Gilgamesh and Hamlet. The Arab Journal for Arts،Vol. 3, no. 1, pp.25-44.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-371266
Modern Language Association (MLA)
al-Sadun, Sabbar Sultan. Those who saw the abyss : Gilgamesh and Hamlet. The Arab Journal for Arts Vol. 3, no. 1 (2006), pp.25-44.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-371266
American Medical Association (AMA)
al-Sadun, Sabbar Sultan. Those who saw the abyss : Gilgamesh and Hamlet. The Arab Journal for Arts. 2006. Vol. 3, no. 1, pp.25-44.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-371266
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references : p. 45-48
Record ID
BIM-371266