A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SHAKESPEARE’S OTHELLO AND PASHTO FOLK TALE SHER ALAM MEMUNAI

Abstract

This study has focused the comparison of the two literary works of English and Pashto, Othello, a Shakespearean play and Sher Alam and Memunai, a Pashto folk tale. Besides the comparison of the two protagonists, Othello and Sher Alam, thematic affinity, other points of convergence and divergence, in these two tragedies belonging to different ages, languages, cultures and areas have been explored and analyzed. Thematic affinity and contrast in terms of different characters besides the protagonists, like villains, heroines and fathers of heroines have also been analyzed. The center of discussion are the protagonists, as both of them suffer from the tragic flaw of jealousy and suspicion, which play an important role in leading them towards the cruel act of murdering their innocent wives, on the incitation of the villains, and bringing upon their own tragic end as well. In this study an effort has been made to provide the thematic affinity and also the striking contrasts in the two works of literature, Shakespeare’s Othello, and the Pashto folk tale, Sher Alam and Memunai.