Sa‘di and Shakespeare: A Comparative Study of Some Common Themes

Shadi Mohyeddin Ghomshei, Hossein Mohyeddin Ghomshei

Abstract


This paper aims at showing that although the two great world poets Muslih al-Din Sa‘di (c.1184-1291) and William Shakespeare (1564-1616) hailed from far different historical eras and cultures and were the product of separate religious and social environments, in their basic ideas and ideals they shared so much in common that they seemed to be coming from the same realm of thoughts. To demonstrate this, we have narrowed down the subject of our study to a thematic comparison of key subjects that these two genius poets shared in common, concentrating on certain general topics that were beloved of both writers, viz. music, co-mpensation theory, love, the dignity of man and the immortality of the soul. In this manner, we hope to demonstrate how both poets acted as universal mirrors reflecting our common human nature and shared similar if not virtually identical ideas regarding basic issues of humanity.


Keywords


Sa‘di; Shakespeare; Comparative study; Music; Compensation theory; Love; Dignity

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/8335

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